Eglish Premier League outfit Crystal Palace, according to reports, are interested in adding Super Eagles forward Kelechi Iheanacho to their roster.
The Eagles are looking to strengthen their squad depth ahead of next season's campaign. Crystal Palace, currently placed 14th on the log with an accumulated points total of 36 in 33 games, aims to bolster their ranks.
The 27-year-old's contract with Leicester City runs out on June 30, and Iheanacho is believed to want to bring an end to his alliance with the club that began in 2017.
Before joining Leicester, Iheanacho had featured for Manchester City, where he made 46 appearances and scored 12 goals during his two-year spell.
With the Citizens. he won the Football League Cup in the 2015/16 season.
Iheanacho's impact: A look at his performance since joining Leicester
Iheanacho joined Leicester City in August 2017 on a five-year contract worth a reported £25 million. He made his debut in a match against Arsenal, scoring his first goal in an EFL Cup tie against Leeds United.
He became the first player in English football to benefit from a Video Assistant Referee decision, securing a goal against Fleetwood Town.
Not a starter in his early days, injuries to key players gave him more opportunities, during which he scored 12 goals in 10 games.
He achieved his first Premier League hat-trick against Sheffield United and scored crucial goals in FA Cup matches, helping Leicester reach the semi-finals.
In March 2021, he was named Premier League Player of the Month. He extended his contract with Leicester until 2024 and continued his success, including scoring the only goal in a FA Cup semi-final win against Southampton, leading Leicester to their first FA Cup final since 1969.
In the 2021 FA Community Shield against Manchester City, he scored the winning goal from a penalty.
Iheanacho's outstanding performances earned him Leicester's Player of the Year award, despite the club's relegation from the Premier League that season.
In the ongoing campaign, he has featured in 22 matches, starting 10 of them. Within the Championship, he boasts five goals and one assist.
He made two appearances in the EFL Cup, contributing with one goal and one assist.
Are Crystal Palace the sole suitors for Iheanacho's signature?
While this latest report is an intriguing one, Crystal Palace are not the sole contender eyeing a move for Nigerian international Kelechi Iheanacho.
Reports suggest that Turkish powerhouse Trabzonspor is also eager to secure Iheanacho's services for the upcoming season, considering him as a potential replacement for his compatriot, Paul Onuachu.
As his contract with Leicester expires this summer, he becomes an enticing prospect for various clubs seeking to bolster their squads.
With the leeway of being available as a free agent, the likelihood of other clubs emerging as potential suitors for Iheanacho is high.
With interest brewing from multiple fronts, it remains to be seen which club will ultimately secure the signature of the talented Nigerian forward.
Crystal Palace linked with Ndidi also
Iheanacho is not the only Leicester City player catching Crystal Palace's eye. His fellow teammate and compatriot, Wilfred Ndidi, is also on the Eagles' radar.
Similar to Iheanacho, Ndidi's contract with the Foxes is set to expire on June 30, and the 27-year-old is anticipated to bid farewell to the King Power Stadium at the conclusion of the season. Ndidi made his move to Leicester from Belgian club KRC Genk back in 2017.
In anticipation of Ndidi's departure, Leicester City is already strategising, with plans to pursue Newcastle United's Sean Longstaff.
However, Crystal Palace faces stiff competition in their pursuit of the Nigerian midfielder. Clubs like Juventus, Barcelona, and Galatasaray have all reportedly shown interest in Ndidi in recent weeks, intensifying the battle for his signature.
