West Ham United and Leicester City continue to fight for Manchester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho.
According to a report from Own Goal Nigeria, while West Ham United have re-opened talks with Manchester City regarding the possible transfer of Kelechi Iheanacho this summer, it is Leicester City who are currently in the box seat.
The report states that the Foxes are not only willing to match city’s £25million asking price, they have also guaranteed the Nigerian his preferred position behind Jamie Vardy for next season.
Own Goal Nigeria goes on to claim that Iheanacho does not favour a role as a lone striker and much prefers late runs into the box while featuring predominantly behind an out-and-out forward.
West Ham could also offer that role, with the 20-year-old playing behind Andy Carroll next season, but it remains to be seen if the Hammers can leapfrog their Premier League rivals at this late stage of negotiations.
Slaven Bilic’s side are in desperate of additional fire power and Iheanacho’s goal return at City marks him out as the perfect summer signing.
The problem is, Leicester are fighting tooth and nail to get a deal over the line and one wonders if West Ham will again be caught short in a striker search, just as they were 12 months ago when they were forced to complete deals for underwhelming duo Simone Zaza and Jonathan Calleri.
Considering the Nigerian international’s innate talent and availability, a West Ham swoop seems a no-brainer, but having stepped away from the negotiating table earlier in the process due to City’s preferred buyback clause, this could be another target that slips alarmingly through Bilic’s fingers.
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