Southampton are reportedly keen on Manchester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola speaks with Kelechi Iheanacho
According to the Daily Mail, Southampton have made a loan approach for Manchester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho – but City will consider a permanent deal worth £20million.
Iheanacho, 20, hit the headlines back in 2013 at the Under-17 World Cup with his performances for Nigeria, and he agreed to join Manchester City in January 2014, but couldn’t move before his 18th birthday.
After a loan move to Columbus Crew for fitness reasons, Iheanacho finally became a first-team player with City last season, scoring 14 goals in 35 appearances under Manuel Pellegrini.
The young striker was seen as one of the top talents in Europe, but he has struggled for playing time under Pep Guardiola this term, starting just eight games in all competitions, with his total record this season sitting at seven goals in 27 games.
Manchester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho shoots
Now, the Daily Mail claim that City are ready to sell Iheanacho for close to £20million this summer having been pushed down the pecking order by Gabriel Jesus, with Borussia Dortmund and Hoffenheim keen on a strike with pace, skill and the innate goalscoring ability that teams are looking for.
Intriguingly, the report adds that Southampton are also interested, but have so far only enquired about taking Iheanacho on loan for next season rather than purchasing him.
Manchester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho scores
It remains to be seen whether Saints boss Claude Puel keeps his job this summer, but Southampton could be in the market for attacking reinforcements despite signing Manolo Gabbiadini in January.
Question marks surround the futures of Shane Long and Jay Rodriguez, whilst Charlie Austin’s long-term fitness has also been brought into doubt – and Iheanacho could fit the bill as a striker to support Gabbiadini, but it’s unclear whether they can tempt City into a loan deal, or whether they will pay £20million to land him.
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