Leicester City had little choice but to allow Kelechi Iheanacho to leave for free this summer following the end of his contract.
The Nigeria striker spent seven seasons at Leicester City after the club spent £25 million to sign him from Manchester City in 2017.
However, Kelechi Iheancho‘s time at the Foxes has come to an end after he refused to sign a new contract meaning he is free to join a new club for free.
This makes the striker who scored 61 and assisted 34 goals in his time at Leicester an attractive proposition and it now looks as though the 27-year-old could secure a move to a Champions League club.
Aston Villa keen on move for Kelechi Iheancaho after Leicester City contract expiry
Iheanacho is a talented striker but has never really established himself as the first choice forward at Leicester.
Much of that owes to Jamie Vardy’s longevity, but Iheancaho scored just five goals as Leicester won the Championship last season.
Despite this, the 55-cap Nigeria international could be set for a move that would not only see him stay in England but play in next season’s Champions League.
That is because Birmingham Live report: ‘Aston Villa have been linked with a move for Kelechi Iheanacho this summer – and that link has continued to rear its head as Villa consider how they might proceed in final six weeks or so of the transfer window’.
The main factor behind Iheanacho being considered is that Villa are looking to sign ‘forwards who are proven and possess the adequate quality, but who are equally content to play second fiddle to a colleague – in Villa’s case their undisputed first choice centre forward is Ollie Watkins’.
The report goes on to suggest that Iheanacho would ‘tick a number of these boxes’.
Iheanacho could come back to haunt Leicester City next season
Given he has scored just 14 league goals in the past three seasons, Iheanacho would be very fortunate to secure a move to Villa.
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However, the fact he fits the bill for what Unai Emery’s side are looking for in a back-up striker means he could well be in luck.
If he does sign for the Villa Park club then it won’t be long before Iheanacho returns to the King Power, as Leicester face Villa in the third Premier League game of the season.
If Iheanacho were to make a telling contribution that could be a real dagger into Leicester hearts.
The second clash between the two sides is scheduled to be both clubs’ first game of 2025, as they meet again on 4th January.