Super Eagles forward, Kelechi Iheanacho, was on the verge of making a January transfer to La Liga Santander side, Sevilla FC.
The Nigerian forward has struggled to win over Brendan Rodgers’s since his move to Leicester City from Manchester City in 2017.
The Nigerian has been placed as the backup option to Englishman Jamie Vardy, who is seen as their key striker. The Super Eagles attacker has made 138 appearances in the club’s domestic league, although just 58 of those have been started.
The Nigerian, who has played for the Foxes in 14 Premier League games this season, has only started one of those games, a 5-2 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion in which he contributed one of the team’s two goals.
The attacker scored seven goals in his last seven cup contests, guiding his club to an FA Cup triumph against Walsall. The 26-year-old has scored 17 goals in the competition since making his FA Cup debut in January 2016—the most of any player.
17 – Since his FA Cup debut in January 2016, Kelechi Iheanacho’s 17 goals in the competition is the most of any player, while the Nigerian has netted seven in his last seven appearances in the cup. King. pic.twitter.com/tzYGvhSqZP
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 28, 2023
However, rumours claim that Sevilla manager Rafael Mir Vicente considered this as the ideal chance to entice the striker to Spain in their bid to secure a Europa League spot.
According to reports, the Red-Whites want to swap their Spanish forward, Rafa Mir, for the Super Eagles forward.
However, the club’s number 12 has scored three goals in 14 domestic league games, which seems like a fair trade for both teams.
Soccernet.ng identifies the reasons that prevented the transfer from happening.
Real Betis signing Ayoze Pérez
Another player whose pick by Rodgers has not gone well is the Spanish forward, in addition to Iheanacho. However, Pérez’s departure to Spain has given the Irish manager fewer choices in his bid for EPL survival, leaving them only a point above the relegation position.
With this, it increases the Nigerian star’s chances of earning a spot in the starting lineup under Rodgers.
Iheanacho finds King Power to be much too cozy
The Nigerian star is unquestionably a talented striker who leads the English league in goals scored in the FA Cup, but his inconsistent play has prevented him from reaching the heights of his potential as a forward. Despite this, the Super Eagles attacker has steadfastly resisted leaving East Midlands, like any other player would. His closest ally and fellow countryman Wilfred Ndidi, who is also on the squad, could possibly be responsible.
Concern about Jamie Vardy’s injuries
Aside Pérez leaving out Rodgers with a few options in Leicester city’s attacker, Vardy also picked a knock during training on Friday after feeling a pull in the gluteal area. Although Leicester midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall suffered a similar injury earlier in the season, which left him out of the team for two weeks.
Patson Daka and Kelechi Iheanacho filled in for the striker against Walsall in his absence, with the Nigerian international netting for the game-winning goal in the 68th minute at the Bescot Stadium.
Iheanacho’s transfer to the Spanish La Liga would have allowed him to partner up with Samuel Chukwueze and Umar Sadiq to dominate the Spanish League in a similar manner to how Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman dominate the Italian Serie A.
