Kelechi Iheanacho stats prove he should be Everton priority for transfer
Everton have been on the hunt for a number of strikers this summer as they look to improve their front line ahead of the new Premier League season.
One of their key targets is Leicester City and Nigeria striker Kelechi Iheanacho stands out above the rest when looking at the stats, and they prove he should be their priority target when it comes to expanding on their current options.
Iheanacho has been linked with a move to Everton this summer [Ignazio Genuardi, 27 July] following Leicester’s relegation from the Premier League, but other strikers linked with a move to Goodison Park include Joel Piroe [Wales Online, 29 June], Yuri Alberto [Dominic Schneider, 28 July] and Boulaye Dia [Corriere dello Sport, 28 July].
Ihenacho is in the 90th or higher percentile for assists, non-penalty expected goals and assists, shot-creating actions, successful take-ons and expected goals and assists. His assists stat particularly stands out as the Nigerian falls in the top 98% of strikers in Europe’s top five leagues [FBRef].
Compared to his opponents on the same stats, Yuri Alberto doesn’t even hit the top 50% for any of these stats, despite being compared to players in the ‘next eight’ leagues – outside of the big five.
Dia meanwhile ranks in the 86th percentile when it comes to assists, but much like Alberto doesn’t come close to Iheanacho when looking at the rest of the listed stats. His ranking in the 78th percentile of successful take-ons is impressive but doesn’t match the 91st percentile ranking of the Nigerian.
Lastly, Swansea striker Joel Piroe appears the most worthy competitor, although he excels in different areas than Iheanacho. He fails to rank in the top 75% of any of the same stats as the Nigerian, but his position in the 97th percentile of passes completed shows his link-up play is very strong.
With Dominic Calvert-Lewin struggling with injuries, and Neal Maupay proving to be profligate in front of goal, the club are under pressure to make the best possible decision in terms of who will lead the line for the coming Premier League season.
Based on the stats, that man should be Iheanacho.
In other Everton news, the club may have to spend big money to land Brazilian starlet.