Manchester City are reportedly planning a mammoth clearance from the Etihad this summer, which should more or less facilitate for half of the transfer war chest, Pep Guardiola has got sanctioned for himself for the transfer window.
In the massive £300 million transfer activities planned by the Manchester outfit, the outgoing players are expected to fetch the club around £130 million. While Guardiola’s selling list isn’t expected to feature young stars, given his fondness for nurturing them, Kelechi Iheanacho could be an exception.
The Nigerian forward, could, in fact, be the only exception amongst the likes of Samir Nasri, Joe Hart, Eliaquim Mangala, Wilfred Bony and more. The Manchester City academy product had shown great progress since his move from Nigeria’s Taye Academy but seems to have hit a stagnant point. Well, either that or Pep Guardiola is just not the man for him.
The 20-year-old has managed seven goals and three assists in as many as 29 appearances for City last term, enough for Guardiola to scrap him off the list. However, being an academy product, he won’t come cheap for any club, and reportedly City have valued him at £20 million.
Here are 3 possible destinations for the player-
Leicester City- The Foxes have dramatically fallen out of the limelight this summer, after having all of it last season this time. Leicester City have a huge challenge up front, but their decent finish in the league table means they would have to go to the next step systematically.
King Power has some young talents in Demarai Gray and Ahmed Musa up front but they have failed massively, and Craig Shakespeare is now looking to improve the squad by the Nigerian’s addition. With Jamie Vardy regaining form, Iheanacho’s work rate alongside him could be instrumental in Leicester’s next season success.
Southampton- The South Coast club was a surprise top-half finisher last season, who squeezed in at the closing stages. The Saints are going through a difficult time with yet another managerial change at hand, and the board doesn’t want to wait for the new face to take his time at the helm. They had already asked for a loan move for Iheanacho, but City have asked for a permanent move.
The absence of Charlie Austin last season was a huge blow for them, and apart from winter recruit Manolo Gabbiadini, neither Shane Long nor Jay Rodriguez impressed. A move for the Nigerian could be possible.
Newcastle United- Just a wild card entry, given the huge number of speculations they have found themselves in over the last few weeks. A move is possible given Benitez’s ongoing search for a striker and Iheanacho’s age could be an advantage for the side.
The Spanish boss is known to nurture young strikers from his days at Anfield, and Iheanacho has all the potential to become a great striker.
