Claude Puel has notoriously dropped a hint over Kelechi Iheanacho’s Leicester City future, stating that he may leave in January.
Iheanacho was signed from Manchester City for a reported £25 million back in the summer as the Nigerian arrived at the King Power Stadium with quite a burden of expectations on his shoulders; however, things haven’t gone as expected for the 21-year old.
Kelechi Iheanacho has only made 10 appearances for Leicester City this season (starting a mere three of them), the latest of which came way back in November against Manchester City (came off the bench).
Claude Puel has now thrown his Leicester City career into further doubt, sounding very much interested in offloading what now seems Craig Shakespeare’s expensive mistake.
Speaking to the Leicester Mercury, he said:
"“Kelechi had an injury and for the moment, we have competition.“I am happy with Jamie for example. Kelechi or other players cannot play on the side.“It’s difficult for them, but for me also to manage all these players because we have six strikers so there is no place for all the players.”"
Although Kelechi Iheanacho seemed a very exciting buy at the time, to fit him into the team was always going to be a problem, especially with Leicester City’s reliance on Jamie Vardy, and just how much does it suit the team to play to the Englishman’s strengths.
Sadly, that also casts doubt over the nous of those who handle the Foxes’ transfer dealings. Leicester already had two expensive strikers in Islam Slimani and Ahmed Musa warming the bench, yet, bringing in another striker who could never complement Vardy didn’t make much sense. The East Midlanders currently have three strikers worth a combined £70 million with just 26 appearances between them this season.
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With Claude Puel now visibly settled as far as his first-choice XI is concerned, it doesn’t look like things are going to change for Kelechi Iheanacho, and the young striker can himself see that. Sadly, the Nigeria international seems destined to leave the King Power Stadium in January.