Emile Heskey reveals surprise at Leicester City decision involving Kelechi Iheanacho

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To keep Iheanacho at the club this summer, the Foxes were able to stave off transfer interest.
Leicester City’s plan to return to the Premier League at the start of the 2024-25 season is progressing well, with the club winning eight of their first nine Championship games.

And it’s understandable given the roster that new head coach Enzo Maresca is dealing with, having retained a big portion of last season’s squad with plenty of top-flight experience.

Despite the fact that the team was relegated with the Foxes in the first place, there is plenty of quality on offer for a club operating in English football’s second division, and one of those he can depend on is Kelechi Iheanacho.
Iheanacho has been at Leicester for six years after joining from Manchester City, and while he hasn’t always been productive, he did score 19 goals in all competitions in the 2020-21 season, four of which came during the club’s FA Cup run.

What has Emile Heskey said on Kelechi Iheanacho’s Leicester City situation?

Under Maresca, the 27-year-old has started five of Leicester’s nine Championship games, with Jamie Vardy starting the other four, and he has two league goals to his name against Norwich City and Blackburn Rovers.

With less than a year left on his contract, there was plenty of talk that Iheanacho might leave this summer, with Crystal Palace, Everton, and Besiktas among the rumored interested parties.
When asked about Iheanacho’s predicament at the King Power Stadium, former Leicester favourite Emile Heskey said it was surprising that the Nigerian stayed despite transfer interest, but it is ultimately Maresca’s gain that the 27-year-old feels secure enough to stay.

“Yes and no,” Heskey said on behalf of sharemarketcap.com when asked if he was surprised Leicester was able to keep Iheanacho during the summer transfer window.

“Iheanacho is at ease in Leicester, and the fans clearly adore him.”

“He’s a fantastic goal scorer, and his goal contributions when he starts or comes on are generally very good.”

“He either scores or assists, it’s incredible.”

“I thought it was very interesting that they managed to keep him but great because when you’re looking at the players that Leicester have got, there’s a lot of Premier League stars.”

Should Leicester have cashed in on Kelechi Iheanacho?

Given Iheanacho’s current contract status, it was a risky move for Leicester not to try and acquire some money for him.

The Foxes might lose the striker for free in less than a year if he decides not to prolong his stay in the East Midlands, and given that they paid £25 million for him, it would be good to get something back.

Iheanacho, on the other hand, is content with his current situation, and if Leicester returns to the Premier League next season, as many expect, it may be easier to re-negotiate a deal at the end of the current season.

With Iheanacho’s expertise in the top tier of English football, Leicester did the right thing by keeping him and not being tempted enough to cash in on his talents.