By Joe Apu
Nigeria striker, Kelechi Iheanacho is close to joining his compatriots Ahmed Musa and Wilfred Ndidi at Leicester City ahead of the new English Premier League season following the acceptance of £25m (about N8.1 billion) by Manchester City.
The 20-year-old had fallen down the pecking order under Citizens boss Pep Guardiola, paving the way for the Foxes to lure him to the King Power Stadium.
According to Sky Sports news, a deal in principle to bring the Nigerian international to the 2015/16 Premier League champions has been agreed.
However, there are still contractual issues to sort out before Craig Shakespeare can show his major coup.
Leicester have beaten West Ham in the race to acquire his services, with the Hammers hopeful that former City star Pablo Zabaleta could persuade him to move to London.
Shakespeare believes Iheanacho will form a formidable partnership with Jamie Vardy upfront, with both forwards blessed with blistering pace and deadly finishing.
The 2015/16 League Cup winner started just once in 2017 under the former Barcelona boss last season, with Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero preferred ahead of him.
Still, he managed to bag seven goals in 29 games in all competitions – a decent return for a player who featured sporadically throughout the whole campaign.
In his breakthrough season the year before, he netted eight Premier League goals in 26 games – 14 in all competitions, as he established himself as one of the most exciting prospects in the top-flight.
His startling form led to his debut for the Super Eagles in 2015, where he has since notched up an impressive six strikes in 10 caps.
He was part of the Nigerian side that won the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in 2013, where he took home the Golden Ball award, as he netted six goals as well as providing seven assists in the tournament.
It’s already been a busy transfer window for the Foxes, bringing in centre-back Harry Maguire from Hull City for a fee rising to £17million and Sevilla’s defensive midfield captain Vicente Iborra for £12.5m.