Watford boss insists Odion Ighalo will not leave in January despite China interest

In-form Watford striker Odion Ighalo almost joined Chinese outfit Hebei China Fortune in the summer

WATFORD manager Quique Flores insists in-form striker Odion Ighalo will not be leaving the club in January despite coming close to a summer move to China.

 

The Nigerian, 26, turned down a switch to Hebei China Fortune in a £10 million move.

He has responded with four goals in his last four Premier League matches and also scored for Nigeria against Cameroon during the international break.

 

Watford boss Quique Flores insists Ighalo will not be leaving the club in January

"He had the chance to go out in the summer but decided to stay here and that was an amazing decision," said Flores. "When a player plays well the value changes to buy him.

“But we now think Ighalo is our most important player, he is very happy and can play in different positions.

“I’m not scared about Ighalo. I’m happy with him and not thinking about what might happen in the winter market.”

 

Watford play Arsenal tomorrow and on the eve of his first meeting with Arsene Wenger, Flores has taunted the long-serving Frenchman with claims he would never last as long if he managed in La Liga.

“What he did is very difficult to match in other countries,” said former Getafe, Atletico Madrid and Valencia boss Flores on facing Wenger who has been at North London since 1996. “It is impossible. In other countries it is completely different. Times changes but it is very difficult for other managers.

“Would other managers get the same time as Arsene Wenger in Spain? We live in another philosophy. We think in another philosophy. Sometimes in Spain we don’t wait until the end of the season to change.

“In Spain it is difficult to ever think of a manager managing for 20 years."