Iheanacho: Key reason Celtic could move quickly to secure Super Eagles star’s future 

Super Eagles forward Kelechi Iheanacho has received a major boost in his bid to extend his stay at Scottish champions Celtic beyond this summer, Afrik-Foot reports.

The future of the Nigerian striker has remained uncertain since the end of the season, with questions surrounding his next move and whether he will remain at Celtic beyond the summer.

Iheanacho joined the Hoops last summer in a bid to revive his career following an underwhelming spell at Spanish side Sevilla. He signed a one-year deal, although the Scottish champions had the option to extend for an additional year.

The 29-year-old struggled with injuries during the campaign, which limited him to only a handful of starts across all competitions. At one stage, it appeared likely that he would leave the club at the end of the season.

However, Iheanacho produced a strong finish to the campaign, scoring six goals from nine substitute appearances as Celtic secured a league and cup double. His late resurgence served as a reminder of his quality and pushed him back into contention for a contract extension.

Despite that, Celtic are yet to make a final decision, with Iheanacho’s current contract set to expire at the end of June.

Celtic miss out on top transfer target Elias Filet

According to reports from the Glasgow Times, Celtic have missed out on the signing of Aarau forward Elias Filet, who has agreed a move to RAAL La Louvière in the Belgian Pro League.

The Scottish champions had identified the French forward as a major target for the centre-forward position as they look to strengthen their attack ahead of next season, especially with the uncertainty surrounding the future of Iheanacho and Japanese forward Daizen Maeda. 

Filet scored 22 goals for the Swiss club last season and was also keen on a move to Celtic Park. However, he made a late U-turn and opted for a move to Belgium instead.

This decision has left Celtic in a difficult position and could now force them to consider alternative options in the transfer market.

What does Filet’s decision mean for Iheanacho?

Iheanacho’s future had already been unclear, with Celtic yet to communicate a decision on whether they would activate the extension option in his contract.

Their pursuit of Filet had also cast further doubt over the future of the Nigerian forward. The arrival of another centre-forward could have increased competition in the squad and potentially reduced Iheanacho’s chances of earning a new deal.

However, Celtic’s failure to land the French striker could now improve Iheanacho’s chances of remaining at the club. With one of their leading transfer targets no longer available, the Hoops may be forced to hand the Nigerian forward an extension in order to avoid being left short of attacking options.

There have been concerns over his fitness and availability after he spent much of last season dealing with injuries, which is one of the reasons Celtic are taking their time before making a final decision.

Nevertheless, Iheanacho’s quality is not in doubt and his impact during the final stages of the campaign showed that he can still be a valuable option for Celtic, especially if he is able to complete a full pre-season and improve his fitness ahead of the new campaign.

The Nigerian forward has already expressed his desire to remain at the Hoops and fight for more silverware next season. However, interest is also growing from clubs in Brazil and the Saudi Pro League if he eventually leaves the club.

With just days left on Iheanacho’s current deal, Celtic are now expected to decide quickly on his future at the club.