A potentially low buy-back clause and the player’s personal intentions are just two of the reasons why West Ham talks with Manchester City over a move for striker Kelechi Iheanacho have stalled, according to a Hammers insider.
Former employee of the club ExWHUEmployee, who has proven themselves to be a reputable source of West Ham information over the past season, has claimed that City are insistent on including the clause, which would allow them to re-sign the 20-year-old forward at a later date.
Last month the Sun claimed that the Hammers had made a £20million move for the nine-time-capped Nigerian international.
However, earlier this month ExWHUEmployee claimed in his column for The West Ham Way that talks between the two clubs had stalled over the potential buy-back clause, and has now emphasised that the clause is said be much lower than what West Ham want to agree to.
He also added that the striker does not want to leave the North West club, and that is the reason why the buy-back agreement is being discussed.
In an interview with Manchester City fan website City Watch, they said: ” The buy-back clause is said to be quite low.
“The player himself doesn’t want to leave and this is also seen as a way of appeasing the transfer.”
Iheanacho, who joined the Manchester City academy in January 2014 as a 17-year-old before formally signing as a professional in October of the same year, has made 46 league appearances for the Citizens, primarily as a substitute, and scored 12 Premier League goals.
However, ExWHUEmployee claims that the player only wants to remain in the United Kingdom in order to be eligible for citizenship, and says this has made the Hammers reevaluate their move for the forward.
“With Kelechi (Iheanacho) making it clear he only really wants to stay in Britain so he can obtain citizenship – this has made us rethink our offer,” he told City Watch.
West Ham currently have Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho as their recognised out-and-out strikers, with Slaven Bilic in the market for attacking reinforcements this summer.