Leicester City covet Super Eagles hopeful ahead of Iheanacho exit

Leicester City are reportedly hot on the heels of English-born Nigerian attacker, Elijah Adebayo, as they gear up for their return to the Premier League limelight.

Luton Town’s precarious position in the relegation zone, with a mere 26 points, casts doubt on Adebayo’s future at the club. The striker, eligible to represent the Nigerian national team (Super Eagles), finds himself in a seller’s market, with Crystal Palace and Bournemouth also circling.

The Foxes, anticipating a busy summer transfer window to bolster their squad for the top-flight challenge, have reportedly set their sights on Adebayo. The lure of the Premier League and Leicester’s project could be a tempting proposition for the attacker, but he will undoubtedly weigh all options before making a decision.

Reports suggest that Kelechi Iheanacho has no plans to sign a new contract with Leicester City. Consequently, the club is exploring options for his replacement.

Iheanacho’s Leicester exit seems likely, PL clubs eye up potential move

English Premier League outfit Everton are reportedly interested in signing Nigerian international forward Kelechi Iheanacho, according to claims from Everton’s former chief, Keith Wyness.

The 66-year-old, who served as CEO at Goodison Park from 2004 to 2009 and currently runs a football consultancy advising top-tier clubs, suggested that Leicester City might prioritize stability but could see the 27-year-old depart for a competitor in the upcoming off-season.

Meanwhile, reports from Givemesports suggest that Kelechi Iheanacho has no intention of signing a new contract with Leicester City. As a consequence, the club is looking for potential replacements.

The Super Eagles attacker, who has struggled to secure regular starting positions with the club, has been linked with a move to Crystal Palace and Aston Villa as a potential free agent.

Nicknamed “Seniorman Kelz,” Iheanacho had a challenging season with Leicester, appearing in just 25 matches across various competitions and scoring six goals.

It’s important to note that five of these goals came in the Championship, where Leicester emerged victorious, securing their promotion back to the Premier League.

Leicester sealed their promotion following Leeds United’s 4-0 loss to QPR at the end of April. Shortly after, they clinched the league title with a 3-0 victory over Preston North End on Monday, April 29th.

Since the beginning of the year, Iheanacho’s playing time under manager Enzo Maresca has been limited, partly due to his participation in the Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria, which resulted in him missing several matches.

Following the Foxes’ final match of the season, Iheanacho hinted heavily at his departure from the King Power Stadium. He was seen wearing a t-shirt with the inscription: “We’ve got history. When I’m gone, you’re going to miss me.”

Before joining the Foxes in 2017, Iheanacho played 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.

Elijah Adebayo’s breakout season in the Premier League

Despite a sluggish start, netting only twice in his initial 14 Premier League appearances, Adebayo found his scoring touch in December 2023. A red-hot run saw him bag seven goals in nine games, including strikes against powerhouses like Arsenal, Manchester City, and Chelsea.

This impressive streak even resulted in his first career hat-trick during Luton’s victory over Brighton in January.

Elijah Adebayo’s blazing form turned heads, not only with his club but also with the Nigerian national team. He received a nomination for Premier League Player of the Month in January and was considered for a call-up to the Super Eagles squad facing Ghana and Mali in March. Unfortunately, a setback due to injury halted his momentum, sidelining him for eleven league matches.

The London-born forward arrived at Luton Town from Walsall in January 2021 and has amassed an impressive record of 42 goals and 10 assists in 140 appearances for the Hatters. His market value is currently estimated at 12 million euros.