Leicester City are reportedly preparing to let Kelechi Iheanacho leave the club after his dismal start to life at the King Power, and Newcastle must be ready to pounce if that happens.
As reported by The Sun, the Foxes are said to be willing to let the 21-year-old go this month, even if that means making a loss on the striker they paid £25million for in the summer.
A source at the club is quoted as saying: “The problem is Kelechi is earning around £115,000-a-week on a five-year deal and no club will currently want to take him on those wages. So Leicester might have to let him go for a lot cheaper than they paid for him if they decide to sell now.”
Iheanacho’s place at Leicester is illustrated by manager Claude Puel’s response to questions about the Nigerian international’s future.
As quoted by The Sun, Puel said: “Kelechi’s a young player, has a lot to improve on in different aspects of his play. It’s difficult because he’s behind Jamie Vardy. It’s difficult to play behind him. Shinji Okazaki is also playing well. And there is also Islam Slimani.”
Hardly a ringing endorsement from the Frenchman.
The striker has made just two Premier League starts since his move to the Midlands, and has made just 12 senior appearances in all competitions, scoring once.
This is in contrast to his time at Manchester City, where the youngster was seen as one of the Premier League’s most exciting young talents.
In total, Iheanacho scored 21 goals in 64 appearances for City, and seemed destined for a long career at the top of the game.
However, he was deemed surplus to requirements by new boss Pep Guardiola, and sold on for £25million last August.
The big fee that Leicester shelled out for Iheanacho did raise some eyebrows, but most focused on the fact that the Foxes had just secured the services of a seriously exciting young player.
Rafa Benitez was reportedly interested in signing Iheanacho before Leicester secured the youngster, and he must reignite that interest with January move.
While the Magpies will be unable to offer a big fee for a permanent deal, with the impending takeover of the club dragging on, that does not mean that a deal is off the cards.
Benitez needs to be clever, and offer to take Iheanacho off Leicester’s hands on an initial loan deal.
And, with PCP Capital Partners surely to be in control of the club by the summer, Benitez should be able to offer a loan deal with a view to buy Iheanacho in the summer.
The need for a striker at Newcastle is clear for all to see, with the club’s top scorer currently Ayoze Perez with just four.
Iheanacho showed during his time at City that he is a lethal finisher with brilliant positioning and enough pace to get away from defences.
He just needs a chance to play regular Premier League football again, and he would slot straight into the Magpies starting side.