Leicester City of England midfielder, Kelechi Iheanacho may have received a credible escape route from the ongoing days of irrelevance he is facing at King Power Stadium, as his name is being bandied around in a possible transfer coup at Besiktas of Turkey, megasportsarena.com reports.
In what could be a massive deal to make Iheanacho the next Nigerian to play for Besiktas, after Daniel Amokachi, Ike Shorunmu and Michael Eneramo, a presidential candidate at the Istanbul-based Turkish Super Lig club, Ahmet Nur Cebi has been linked with an ambitious move to lure the UAE 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup gold medalist and most valuable player over to the team.
Although many observes would doubt the chances of Iheanacho making the move to Turkey, as the former Columbus Crew of America and Manchester City of England star would still fancy his chances of returning to the Super Eagles based on plying his trade in England, a close aide of the Besiktas presidential candidate, Erdal Torunogullari has promised to sign the Leicester outcast.
However, Torunogullari’s promise to get Iheanacho will only materialise if his mentor is elected as the club’s next supremo, a report by Fotospor disclosed that the lad has already been sounded out about the possibility of him joining the top-flight club and formal talks have also held with his representative, with an initial 18-month loan deal tabled for the lad.
Iheanacho is struggling to gain playing time due to the presence of Jamie Vardy and Ayoze Perez, and a move away from the King Power Stadium when the transfer window reopens would be the sensible thing to do.
The 23-year-old’s only appearance for the Foxes this season came against Luton Town in the third round of the League Cup, as his opportunities continue to be limited under successive managers at The Foxes, from Craig Shakespeare, Claude Puel and now Brendan Rodgers, with only 16 starts in the English Premier League from a possible 84 since his transfer from Man City in August 2017.
This comes some months after an editorial by Thomas Bradley Alderman in The Foxes’ Fansided website, where he noted that the Owerri-born left-footer should be on his way out King Power Stadium next summer.
Alderman expatiated: “Let’s face it, things haven’t worked out for Kelechi Iheanacho at the King Power Stadium. Maybe it’s time for the Nigerian to leave Leicester City – it could be best for both parties.
“What is needed at Leicester City is a ready, capable and willing striker in support to Foxes main man up top, Jamie Vardy. Kelechi Iheanacho can be thought of as that understudy at present, especially considering Shinji Okazaki’s poor scoring record. Not to mention, the Japanese’s likely summer departure.
“Yet Foxes of Leicester believes that the East Midlands club should be targeting a replacement for Iheanacho too. He is in the middle of a year-and-a-half goalscoring slump. Wouldn’t it be nice to persevere with the obviously talented natural goalscorer? Although, football is ultimately a business and the Nigerian is failing.
“Most noteworthy is many onlookers concluding the 22-year-old would benefit from a significant starting run in the team. To be fair, in the not too distant past Iheanacho was assisting goals in a slightly altered role as forward facilitator. He also formed a now disbanded relationship with Vardy as a duo – which should possibly be attempted under new boss Brendan Rodgers.
“While in a supporting capacity Iheanacho immediately managed a succession of assists in an almost equal amount of matches at the season’s start; then fell away quite drastically. Determination and concentration seem to be issues with the former Manchester City hitman.”