Newcastle include Ighalo in list of potential targets

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Newcastle have included Nigerian international, Odion Ighalo to the list of its potential buys during the January transfer window.

The 32-year-old currently plays for Al Shabab in Saudi Arabia after spells with Watford and Manchester United in the Premier League.

According to SkySport, Al Shabab have informally asked Ighalo if he would be interested should Newcastle come in for him with the forward said to have responded saying he would seriously consider a move if contact is made.

His contract with the Arabian side expires in the summer of 2023.

Ighalo is the joint top scorer in the Saudi Professional League this season with nine goals. He moved to the Middle East from Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua after his loan deal at Old Trafford came to an end earlier this year.

Ighalo scored 40 goals in 100 appearances for Watford between 2014 and 2017 and netted five times in 23 games for United during his year-long spell at the club between January 2020 and Janaury 2021.

Newcastle are said to be working hard on a wish-list of players provided by Eddie Howe to improve their squad in January and try to survive in the Premier League.

The club have been linked with a string of high-profile names from across Europe since the new Saudi Arabia-backed owners took over – and they do have the financial muscle to be able to afford them.