Leicester City may prefer outright sale offer for striker to fund new recruits for premiership promotion push
Ed Emeanua
Besiktas of Turkey have reportedly offered Leicester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho a loan transfer lifeline, but his club must first make a decide on the future of the Nigeria international at the club.
The Turkish Star reports that the player of the season at the King Power Stadium is wanted by the Istanbul outfit, who are preparing a €2m loan offer for the forward.
However, it is highly improbable that Leicester City will take the bait as they will prefer to sell the striker for a higher fee if Iheanacho is to depart.
The Nigerian has just a year left on his contract at Leicester, marooning the him in an untenable spot where he could be sold off to help jack up the transfer spreadsheet.
City are unlikely to accept a loan offer for Iheanacho at this late stage as they may not want to lose him for free next summer. The Club has the options to either sell or sign a new contract with the Nigerian, with the last-mentioned option doubtful as the club begins life in the Championship and is forced to slash wages.
The Star reports that Besiktas are in desperate need of a new striker this summer to replace their injured star forward Cenk Tosun ahead of their season which resumes ahead of the regular Turkish season.
The Turkish giants ended in third place in the Super Lig last term and will represent the nation in the Europa Conference League, but, kickstarts their campaign on July 29 in the second round of qualifying play.
According to Leicestershire Live, City may desire to allow Iheanacho to leave as they have two other forwards in their arsenal. Enzo Maresca, their new manager, has since affirmed Jamie Vardy’s willingness to stay, while Patson Daka’s contract is long-term.
Leicester fans named Iheanacho player of the season last term, regardless that he only made 13 starts in all competitions. The 26-year-old scored eight goals the entire term.
Iheanacho has been at the King Power Stadium for six terms since his £25m transfer from Manchester City in 2017, making 206 appearances and scoring 55 goals.
Twenty-four of Iheanacho’s goals were notched in the FA Cup, League Cup, and Europe, making the Nigeria forward Leicester City’s leading cup goalscorer in the club’s history by miles, nine goals more that the immediate runner-up Mike Stringfellow.
