Manchester United great Rio Ferdinand has explained why he’s changed his mind on January transfer window loan signing Odion Ighalo.

The Nigerian scored two goals as the Red Devils defeated Derby County in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

Ighalo was a surprise acquisition by United from Shanghai Shenhua on a loan deal until the summer.

The 30-year-old was a signing out of the blue but he has been solid for the Reds, scoring his first goal for the club in the 5-0 hammering of Club Brugge in the Europa League last Thursday.

Ferdinand was speaking ahead of United’s clash in the FA Cup fifth round at Derby County this evening when he admitted to questioning the move. But now he believes the addition is starting to make more sense, report the Machester Evening News.

Ferdinand told BT Sport: “People and myself included were probably thinking Odion Ighalo, where does he fit into all of this?

“If you have an opportunity to sign a player at the beginning of the January window, he is not the guy you are going to sign.

“But what he does bring is a point. A point where they can focus and play into him from the midfield. He offers the platform to run off.

“But what he does bring is a point. A point where they can focus and play into him from the midfield. He offers the platform to run off.

“Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial want the ball in behind and not to bring people in.”

Photo Credit: Twitter @EmiratesFACup

Chelsea could find themselves with a shortage of strikers next season as Lazio plot a summer move for Olivier Giroud.

Earlier this week Corriere dello Sport reported that Giroud agreed to join Lazio before the end of the most recent transfer window, but Chelsea blocked the move as they were unable to sign a replacement.

And now the Italian publication claim Lazio have hatched a plan to secure their target for free at the end of the season, report the Daily Express.

Clubs from outside the UK are free to approach players in the final six months of their current deal, meaning Giroud is now available to sign a pre-contract agreement.

And Le Aquile have supposedly mustered a weighty salary package in order to entice the World Cup winner to Italy.

Corriere dello Sport state Lazio will offer the 33-year-old a three-year contract with €3.5million per year plus bonuses.

This would ensure Giroud is contracted up until 2023, when he will be nearly 37.

Lazio are currently top of Serie A by two points, although they have played a game more than Juventus due to the recent fixture postponements caused by Coronavirus.

The club will therefore hopefully be able to offer Champions League football, and while Chelsea are currently in the top four their European qualification spot is far from secure.

Photo Credit: Twitter @ ChelseaFC

Olivier Giroud was delighted for Kepa Arrizabalaga after his impressive return to Chelsea’s starting XI and said the goalkeeper deserved to be named man of the match for his performance in the side’s 2-0 victory over Liverpool.

Kepa lost his place to Willy Caballero at the end of January and had to settle for a place on the substitutes bench for six successive matches ahead of Chelsea’s FA Cup fifth-round clash with Liverpool on Tuesday evening.

Goals from Willian and Ross Barkley either side of half-time booked Chelsea’s spot in the quarter-finals of the competition and consigned Liverpool to their third defeat in four games.

Kepa took his chance with both hands and produced one of of the moments of the tie as he denied Sadio Mane, Takumi Minamino and Divock Origi with an incredible triple save in the first half at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea wonderkid Billy Gilmour was named man of the match for his outstanding display in the middle of the park, but Giroud felt Kepa ‘deserved’ the award after getting his team out of trouble on multiple occasions, report the Metro.

“I just told him I was happy for him,” the Chelsea striker told The Athletic.

“He deserved to be man of the match because he saved us a few times.

“There is a fair competition between him and Willy. They are both training very hard.

“His situation was the same as mine — when you get the chance to be competitive and decisive for the team, you have to take it. Everybody needs to stay alert and in their best form.

“He is a tough man but very quiet. He hasn’t said anything [about being dropped]. We can understand his disappointment but you have to respect the manager’s decisions.

“You have to work hard to get back into the team. He has done well against Liverpool and it’s a good answer.”

Photo Credit: Twitter @ChelseaFC