“Trigger it” – Ex-Manchester United man urges Celtic to make transfer decision on Iheanacho

Former Manchester United midfielder Michael Stewart has advised Celtic to trigger the extension clause in Kelechi Iheanacho’s contract, Afrik-Foot reports.

​Iheanacho’s future has become one of the most heavily debated topics at Celtic Park over the last few weeks.

The Nigerian international was signed as a free agent last year after terminating his contract with Sevilla.

Given that the signing was seen as a gamble at the time, the Hoops opted for a short-term one-year deal that included a club option for an additional year.

​Unfortunately for the Super Eagles star, his time in Glasgow got off to a slow start. Plagued by injuries and caught in the middle of a managerial merry-go-round during the first half of the campaign, the forward struggled to lock down regular playing time.

​However, things took a turn for the better in March. Iheanacho began delivering the goods consistently, regularly coming off the bench to score crucial goals in both the Scottish Premiership and the Scottish Cup.

​His clutch performances proved vital in the final stretch, helping the Hoops finish the campaign with a historic domestic double. Yet, despite his late-season heroics, the Nigerian’s future remains hanging in the balance.

​Michael Stewart Weighs In on Iheanacho’s Celtic Future

​As it stands, Celtic have yet to make a definitive decision on Iheanacho’s contract status, even though the striker has already made it clear that he wants to remain at the club.

​As the board hesitates, Michael Stewart has urged the Hoops to act swiftly. The former Manchester United and Scottish international midfielder noted that because Celtic hold a one-year extension option, there is no need for prolonged or complicated transfer negotiations.

​”He wants to stay. The deal is in place, I just think the club have the option,” Stewart said on Premier Sports.

“So they can trigger it if they want. It’s not as if they’re going to have to negotiate a deal here. The deal’s already in place; it’s just a question of whether they want to trigger it.”

​Stewart noted Celtic’s previous recruitment errors as a key reason to secure the forward immediately.

​”I would be very, very surprised if they weren’t [triggering it] because look at the debacle they had this season in terms of not really even having a striker, the window shutting, and then signing Kelechi Iheanacho because they didn’t have anything. So, I think he’s already there, the deal’s already effectively done.”

Although Stewart acknowledges Iheanacho might not be the primary starter next season, he believes keeping him as a luxury squad option is a necessity—provided the club still addresses their frontline depth.

​”Obviously, I don’t know the ins and outs in terms of the financial package that’s there, but I just think that even if you’re only going to get him as an impact player, then the quality that he has is somebody you would want to have in the squad,” Stewart explained.

​”It doesn’t mean that you’re not then going to look to go and try and sign an actual mainstream number nine striker. But to have Iheanacho as an option makes a lot of sense, provided it’s on the basis that you’re still going out to get a main number nine.

‘If the club start to play silly games again and look at it like, ‘Oh no, well we’ve got him, if we can get him fit we’ll be all right,’ that’s dangerous territory they’re slipping into again.”

​Following his impactful performances over the final months of the season, Iheanacho certainly won’t lack alternative suitors if Celtic decide to let him walk.

With pre-season on the horizon, the forward will be eager to get his future sorted as quickly as possible.