Everton target Kelechi Iheanacho lifts the lid on summer speculation following Toffees’ interest
Kelechi Iheanacho has spoken out for the first time since the transfer window closed having been a target this summer for Everton.
The Toffees were eager to add to their attacking options having struggled for goals last season in the Premier League and were linked with the Leicester City forward who was seemingly available following the Foxes’ relegation to the Championship [Ignazio Genuardi, 27 July].
Ultimately, the Nigerian ended up remaining at the King Power as the transfer window closed, with Sean Dyche instead opting to sign Udinese striker Beto and Iheanacho has revealed his focus is on retuning the Foxes to the Premier League rather than what may have been.
Speaking to BBC Radio Leicester (25 September) he said: “I didn’t get to move and I’m here now playing for Leicester City. These kind of discussions are always difficult.
“When you have less time left at the football club, a year or two, there is speculation and rumours that you want to stay and you want to leave and all that. Personally, I love Leicester City, it’s a good place, a good football club and I’ve been here a few years now.”
Missed out
Iheanacho’s wording during this interview certainly makes it seem as though he was interested in leaving Leicester this summer, as he said. “I didn’t get to move” as opposed to not wanting to move and that could suggest the forward was keen on making the switch to the Toffees.
Everton needed to add goals to their side following last year’s struggles and although Beto hasn’t exactly hit the ground running in terms of finding the net, there have been enough bright moments from the Portuguese forward to give fans hope he will come good in time.
Partner the addition of Beto with the return of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Dyche’s forward options suddenly look much healthier at Goodison Park and assuming they both get in amongst the goals there won’t be too many people rueing missing out on Iheanacho.
Furthermore, the former Manchester City striker is out of contract next summer at the King Power Stadium, so should the Toffees remain interested in signing the 26-year-old, they may well be able to draw him to Merseyside without spending a penny.
In other Everton news, one club source has denied that the Toffees are close to administration currently