Aston Villa reportedly rejected the chance to sign Odion Ighalo 24 hours before the Shanghai Shenhua striker completed a move to Manchester United.

United were linked with a host of attackers throughout deadline day before finally agreeing a deal for Ighalo, who will join on loan until the end of the season with the option to make that move permanent this summer.

However, Sky Sports News reports that the 30-year-old was offered to Aston Villa on Thursday night, one day prior to sealing his return to the Premier League with United.

Villa were in the market for a new forward this month after losing Wesley to injury for the remainder of the campaign, but they instead opted for Mbwana Samatta from Genk before completing a deadline day deal for Borja Baston.

United are understood to have paid a £4m loan fee for Ighalo in addition to agreeing to pay a third of his £300,000-a-week wages.

Ighalo spent three years at Watford from 2014 to 2017, helping them to promotion in his debut season at the club before netting 16 times in 55 Premier League appearances.