West Ham United have long been linked with the Manchester City forward but Crystal Palace are now in the running.
According to a report from the Mirror, Crystal Palace are keen to bring Manchester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho to Selhurst Park this summer, in a move they hope will impress imminent new boss Frank De Boer.
But if that comes to fruition it will be a sickener for West Ham United supporters desperately hoping to see the Nigerian at the London Stadium next season.
As reported by Own Goal Nigeria, West Ham have re-opened talks with City about the prospect of signing the 20-year-old striker. But having previously walked away due to a buyback clause the Blues want in Iheanacho’s contract, it remains to be seen if the Hammers are now doing too little too late.
Iheanacho is a supremely talented forward who would go down a storm at the Hammers, immediately transforming their front line and giving them the additional fire-power they lacked last time out.
With 21 goals and eight assists for City despite rarely starting for the Blues, Iheanacho was never going to be short of suitors once it was clear Pep Guardiola was willing to cash in on the Nigeria international.
The problem for West Ham is that they did not go in hard and fast to seal the deal, agreeing to a buyback clause that would have still seen them benefit for the next few years and may have never even been activated.
It is all about the here and now at the Hammers and Bilic needs to realise that prolific forwards proven in the top flight with years to improve are not made available every day.
Now Palace are believed to be interested and acting fast to secure a deal, and if Iheanacho does arrive in London this summer only to wear Eagles colours instead of West Ham’s, it will be a bitter blow for fans who will want answers as to why an ideal target was allowed to slip through their grasp.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
