Leicester player released after rejecting a new contract proposal as new life with Champions League contender looks close
Kelechi Iheanacho is said to have rejected a new contract proposal and will leave on a free, when his contract experies on the 30th of June. He has not been much involved in the latter stages of the season, having 22 league games played in total, only 10 of them as a starter. He has scored 5 goals this season.
There was a lot of speculation last summer about Kelechi leaving the club. A move to Turkey and Besiktas looked done, but it never happened. Galatasaray and Fenerbahce also had an interest, but his contract at Leicester could probably not be matched.
Aston Villa is said to be keen on a move for Kelechi, who then most certainly will be playing Champions League football next season as well as being with a club that has huge ambitions, and are said to see Kelechi Iheanancho as a second striker and a possible back up for Ollie Watkins.
He joined Leicester from Man City back in 2017, for a fee of £25million. His services to Leicester has to be rated as a 10, being loyal and professional in every aspect. In stiff competition with Jamie Vardy, Shinji Okazaki, Patson Daka and Islam Slimani, he has for long periods been on the fringe.
A move to Aston Villa would probably be a challenge, but we do believe that Unai Emery will give him loads of opportunities and of course play him probably in other positions as the main striker, as we have seen him also doing well in flank positions for Nigeria.
Kelechi Iheanacho is on a total of 231 official games for Leicester, scoring 61 goals. A grand tally when you look it. To get the news of this departure was no surprise, as he has not been eager to sign a new deal earlier on, we wish him well for the future.
