Watford would be foolish not to cash in on ineffective Ighalo
For the third successive transfer window, Odion Ighalo has been linked with a move to a Chinese Super League team. Last January and over the summer, Watford resisted the temptation to cash in on the Nigerian frontman, despite receiving offers of around £40m from teams in the Far East to secure his services. With the transfer merry go round in full swing, the Hornets would be foolish to opt against cashing in on Ighalo this month, however.
Watford’s struggles are well documented of late, with a five-game winless run seeing Walter Mazzarri’s side drop down the table. A 4-1 loss to Tottenham on New Year’s Day was among their worst performances of the season and one win in their last eight in the Premier League is synonymous of a wider issue within the team. They may sit seven points above the relegation zone and in no immediate danger of dropping into the bottom three, but the Hornets’ need to snap out of the current rut in order to consolidate a Premier League spot for a second season running.
A consistent goalscorer has been a problem for Watford, with their 23 goals scored one of the lower returns in the Premier League this season, with Ighalo’s ongoing woes a concern for the club. On the back of a bright start to life in England’s top tier, where the 27-year-old netted 13 times in 19 appearances, the goals have completely deserted Ighalo. Indeed, three league goals in 2016 was a hugely disappointing return for the striker, who is very much struggling in the final third.
Having been a first team regular last term, Mazzarri looks to be losing faith in Ighalo, with a second half cameo in the 2-0 loss at Stoke in midweek doing little to convince the Watford boss he warrants consistent game time in the New Year. Having replaced Valon Behrami at the interval, Ighalo proceeded to have 17 touches of the ball. Granted, a striker may at times infrequently see the ball, but on the rare occasion they see possession, it’s vital they maximise this time, which Ighalo is struggling to do.
Whether it’s down to a change in system or Mazzarri’s decision to alter the way Watford play, Ighalo is averaging fewer touches of the ball this season (28.8) compared to last (35.5). As such, shots per game have also fallen (2.9 down to 2.2) which has had a direct impact on the number of goals he has scored, with that a concerning drop from 15 to just one. In fact, Ighalo has been involved in just two of Watford’s 23 league goals this campaign, both of which came in a man of the match display at West Ham.
It’s not beyond reason for Mazzarri to demand far more from the frontman. Ighalo has registered 1290 of a possible 1800 Premier League minutes this term (71.7%), so it’s not as though he has been devoid of regular first team action. Of course injuries have forced Mazzarri’s hand time and time again, but a change in formation suggests that Ighalo is unlikely to retain a regular starting spot when the Watford boss has a full compliment of players. During his time in charge of Napoli, the Italian boss routinely favoured a 3-4-3 formation and he’s looked to do so where possible this season, with Nordin Amrabat and Roberto Pereyra flanking Troy Deeney.
Deeney is likely to start when fit and with Mazzarri able to also call on Stefano Okaka, Jerome Sinclair and Isaac Success - when fit - to lead the attack, the Watford boss is not short of options. Ighalo is best suited when deployed in a central striking role having disappointed when required out wide, but his underwhelming form as the lone frontman or in a strike pair means Watford could benefit from his sale to sufficiently strengthen elsewhere.
Indeed, only Andros Townsend (2.5%) has a worse conversion rate than Ighalo (2.7%) of all goalscorers in the Premier League this season, that figure falling from 13.8% last term. As he struggles for form coupled with an inability to play out wide, it’s little shock that Watford are believed to be considering at long last cashing in on Ighalo. While he remains a fan favourite with some at Vicarage Road, the Hornets are well stocked in his position and could use the funds gained to improve the squad this month. Frankly, it's a no brainer for a player that has completely gone off the radar in the Premier League.
