Will Kelechi Iheanacho seek a transfer from Leicester City in January?

The last year of Kelechi Iheanacho’s Leicester City career has been a roller-coaster ride. The Nigerian has gone from absolute zero, to the most lethal finisher in the Premier League, to stuck on the bench in just under 12 months. But now, with competition at striker at an all-time high, Iheanacho could well depart in January.

Cast your mind back to the 28th December 2020: Crystal Palace hosted Leicester in an end-of-year clash. Leicester dominated the first half in both possession, and chances created. Whilst the final finishing touch wasn’t quite there, the Foxes had a glorious chance to lead when they were awarded a clear penalty.

Up stepped Kelechi Iheanacho, a man frustrated by having not scored so far in the Premier League that season. He was struggling to impress, with many fans feeling like the striker was on his last chance in Leicester blue. This was his chance, he took a deep breath and a small run up but missed.

The first half ended at 0-0. We all know what happened next. Palace broke through to put themselves 1-0, until Harvey Barnes equalised to make the scores level and, in turn, rescued a point for the Foxes.

At this point, I was convinced that I’d never seen Kelechi Iheanacho play again for LCFC. I thought he’d be sold for a low fee in January to Newcastle or Fulham. Somehow though, Kelechi turned it all around.

It wasn’t until February that Iheanacho scored his first Premier League goal of the season for the east Midlanders in a 2-0 away win to Fulham, but it was in March that he came to life. 11 goals in 12 Premier League saw Kelechi become one of the deadliest strikers in the league. The best of the bunch being his redemption wonder strike to win a tight game against Crystal Palace at the King Power.

In total, Leicester’s No. 14 finished the 2020/21 season on 19 goals and 7 assists in 39 games, as well as being the club’s highest scorer that season, ahead of Jamie Vardy. For this reason, expectations around Kelechi ahead of the 2021/22 season were high. Unfortunately, Kels has found it hard to start in many games this season, let alone score in them.

What’s happened to Leicester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho?

So far this season, Iheanacho has made 19 appearances, but has only started 8 of those games, scoring once in the Premier League, once in the Carabao Cup, and once in the Community Shield. These aren’t good numbers.

The frustrating aspect of all of this, is that it isn’t down to Kelechi playing badly. In fact, he played so well in September that I named him the player of the month. When Kelechi plays, Leicester look better and have better options in attack. He presses hard and well, always threatens when facing goal, and can dribble exceptionally well.

Iheanacho isn’t a fan favourite for nothing, and supporters have grown frustrated whenever seeing that he isn’t starting. We all think and know that he deserves to be playing week-in week-out for Leicester City. So why isn’t he?

Firstly, there’s the big skittles-and-vodka-drinking elephant-in-the-room in Jamie Vardy. The No. 9 is yet again having a fantastic scoring season and is mostly undroppable. Then, there’s the issue of displacing Patson Daka – the King Power club’s all-time highest European goal scorer – who is just getting better and better as he adjusts into his new club.

Secondly, and this is the biggest reason, Leicester just aren’t playing in a system that suits the Nigerian. See, when Iheanacho started getting consistent minutes for Leicester last season, they were missing the likes of Harvey Barnes and James Maddison to injury. The hands of Brendan Rodgers were forced into deploying Iheanacho as a centre-forward to play with and support Jamie Vardy.

Nowadays, with Barnes back, Leicester are looking to play with wingers in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with just the sole striker up front. Iheanacho doesn’t play at his best on his own, with Brendan Rodgers admitting as much to the Leicester Mercury:

"“I think we’ve said it before: he’s best in a two, that’s clear, that’s when he’s been really good […] He’s training well, he’s a great professional, Kels, and he knows he’s going to feature over the course of this period at some point.”"

Right now, it doesn’t look like Rodgers is going to change his formations anytime soon just to fit Iheanacho in. So, could we see him depart the King Power in January?

Will Kelechi Iheanacho leave Leicester in January?

The short answer is no. No, he will not. Iheanacho’s value in the squad is far too high. Goal scoring forwards – especially ones who are proven in the Premier League – are so rare these days, that Leicester just can’t afford to let him go.

What is Vardy pulls up in a game? What if Daka is knocked heavily in a tackle? A top side needs at least 3 strikers who can all compete with one another, and not leave a noticeable hole when they don’t feature. In a season, during which fixtures are going to be as congested as ever, Leicester will only want to keep Iheanacho.

However, if – and this is a huge if – if a transfer offer of £50m or more came in, Leicester would undoubtedly sell him in January. That would be a ridiculous offer for a man who doesn’t start for his club, but I can’t see the Foxes selling for any less.

As of now, his transfer value is at £18m, and – after recently signing a long-term deal at the club – he is contracted until June 2024. If Leicester were to sell, the summer window would be it, not in winter.

If anyone is wondering who would pay that much for Kels, Newcastle currently have more money than sense, and I could see them splashing the cash on a striker to ensue their Premier League survival. Manchester City have also kept one eye on their academy product, though I would suggest that a transfer back to the Citizens has come and gone.

What the fans think

Earlier this month, Foxes of Leicester posted a tweet asking this question:

The replies were mixed, but all shared a frustration at the lack of game time that Kelechi currently plays.

Cardo replied, saying: ‘I feel really bad for him with how much strikers we have here and how all of them are great strikers. He starts for half teams in the league and deserves more game time.’

Meanwhile, Bazzy understood why Kelechi may be sold, stating: ‘[I] think we still need him.  He needs to be starting most games and I don’t think we can give that, we never have with Vardy always being preferred and usually in form. Reckon we’d accept 30 mil doubt we’d sell for less than we bought him [for]’.

FPL Dane’s reply looked towards the near future of when Vardy retires, and the role of both Daka and Iheanacho: ‘The day when Vardy is no longer playing might be nearer than we think. When that day comes, Kel will be invaluable as a super sub or as second striker with Daka. We’ve already seen the link-up the two have.’

I can’t see Iheanacho wanting to wait out his time at Leicester for Jamie Vardy to retire; after all, football is a short career that is focused on the present day. So, whilst I can’t see Leicester selling in January, I can see this being Iheanacho’s last season in the east Midlands – but only if his game time doesn’t start picking up. (Words by Will Kennedy)