Watford reportedly turned down a big-money bid from Shanghai SIPG for Odion Ighalo on Thursday.

The Guardian reports that the Hornets were quick to reject the £38million proposal from the Chinese Super League club for their star Nigerian striker.

Despite splashing an Asian record £46m on Brazilian striker Hulk, Sven-Goran Eriksson's Shanghai reportedly lodged a massive bid for 27-year-old Ighalo but Watford are intent on retaining their key players following the arrival of Walter Mazzarri as their new manager.

The Hertfordshire outfit had already rebuffed Premier League champions Leicester City, who offered £30m for captain Troy Deeney, and have now made their intentions clear by turning down the proposition from Shanghai for Ighalo.