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Odion Ighalo expects his loan contract at Manchester United to be extended until the Premier League season is complete.
The 30-year-old Nigerian striker moved from the Chinese side of Shanghai Shenhua in January and has a contract until May 31.
The Premier League bosses hope to resume the season in June, but, with the Chinese Super League also intending to restart, Ighalo may have to return to Shanghai.
“I would like to end the season if possible,” Ighalo told BBC Sport.
“I was in good shape, in good shape, scoring goals and now we have stopped for over a month. I have done my best and I hope to play again.”
“The team had a good momentum before the pandemic started. Right now I am on loan, and this will shorten my time at the club.”
BBC Sport understands that United is interested in extending Nigeria’s international contract with Ighalo.
He has scored four goals in eight games in all competitions for United, including once in the Europa League’s 5-0 win in the last 16 over LASK on March 12, a day before the season was suspended from the Premier League.
“The club, myself, each footballer is going through many things because we cannot do what we love and what we know how to do better, so we are only thinking about that for now and finishing the season before starting to think about the contract” Ighalo said.
“I just want everyone to be safe and see what the future holds.”
United is fifth in the table with nine games remaining.
Ighalo said the Premier League will make the right decision to ensure that players are “safe and healthy” whenever play is resumed.
Premier League clubs will meet on Monday to discuss a resumption of the season.
The Chinese Super League expects to restart in late June.
The Chinese soccer association has made a proposal for all professional clubs to reduce the salaries of players and coaches by up to 50% to help combat the financial impact of the pandemic.
