Wolverhampton Wanderers have joined Crystal Palace in the race to sign Leicester City’s £25 million star striker Kelechi Iheanacho, according to Football Insider.
Iheanacho has featured in every game so far for the Foxes this season in all competitions and scored the winner in a 2-0 win over Burton Albion in the first round of the EFL Cup which was subsequently the centre-forward’s only goal of the campaign.
It was reported last week by the Evening Standard that Roy Hodgson was eyeing up the Nigerian international to bring him to Selhurst Park but would only complete a deal should Palace forward Jean-Philippe Mateta leave the club. Mateta is still with the Eagles, meaning no further action to sign Iheanacho has been taken.
Football Insider are claiming that Wolves are now leading the charge to bring the 56-goal Leicester City striker to Molineux and have an edge in the race due to the club’s Midlands location. Wolverhampton is closer to Leicester than London which is appealing to the player.
Iheanacho’s former club Manchester City are in talks with Wolves to sign Portuguese midfielder Matheus Nunes and are expected to make a bid for the 24-year-old very soon, as per Sky Sports.
TalkSPORT have revealed that the European champions will have to bid in excess of £60 million after having an initial offer of £47 million rejected by the Wanderers.
Should Wolves complete the sale of Nunes in the coming days, it will free up enough in the budget to bring Iheanacho to the club, a much-needed striker to solve Gary O’Neil’s goalscoring woes.
The 45-cap Nigerian has merely twelve months remaining on his current deal at the King Power Stadium so Leicester may be open to listening to offers for the number ‘9’.
Writer’s View
Wolves were the lowest-scoring team in the Premier League last season with 31 goals in 38 matches. Signing another centre-forward after allowing Raul Jimenez to join Fulham is a top priority for the club.
However, Leicester City are in a sticky situation. Iheanacho will be missed in the squad but has less than a year left on his contract, meaning the Foxes risk losing him for free very soon.
A big decision will need to be made by Friday’s deadline.
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