Transfer: Iheanacho under pressure from Leicester
Super Eagles forward Kelechi Iheanacho has reportedly come under increasing pressure from Leicester City who are doing everything within their power to lure him away from Premier League giants Manchester City during the summer transfer market.
The 20-year-old, whose contract at the Etihad side expires in 2021, struggled for playing time last season following the arrival of Brazilian wonderkid Gabriel Jesus.
Iheanacho, whose future as a Manchester City player hangs in the balance following the Citizens boss Pep Guardiola’s alleged move for wantaway Borussia Dortmund forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Monaco hotshot Kylian Mbappe and Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez during the summer transfer market, has been linked with other Premier League mid-table clubs West Ham, Everton, Swansea City and Crystal Palace.
Although reports claim the 2013 FIFA Under-17 World Cup Golden Ball winner has decided to stay and fight for his place in Guardiola’s side, Leicester, who already have Nigeria stars Ahmed Musa and Wilfred Ndidi on their books, are reportedly ready to test Manchester City’s resolve with a £25m bid for Iheanacho.
According to The Telegraph on Thursday, Leicester boss Craig Shakespeare, who is ready to spend big this summer, believes in the Nigerian he has the quality needed to guide the 2016 Premier League champions to the next level.
Reports say Shakespeare is set to move for the player and attempt to steal in before Everton, Crystal Palace and West Ham.
Leicester are targeting players with top-flight experience, after a disappointing summer of recruitment last year, and believe Iheanacho represents good value for the price required.
Family sources had told our correspondent that the former Taye Academy star would only leave the Premier League giants for a big club.
Sources revealed that the player, who earns a reported £85,000 per week at Man City, is not ready to take a wage cut as the clubs who have shown an interest in his services are not in a position to match what he earns at the Eithad outfit.
Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr is said to be unhappy that Iheanacho, who is his first choice striker, is not a first-team player at his English club.
The German manager, who copped a lot of flak from the Nigerian media and fans following the Eagles’ 2-0 defeat by South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Uyo on June 10, is said to have told Iheanacho to quit Man City for a club in a position to offer him regular playing time.Punch
