Kelechi Iheanacho has been heavily involved in Sevilla’s pre-season, but he is still a top candidate to leave the club
Mexican club Pumas UNAM have contacted Sevilla for the signing of Super Eagles striker Kelechi Iheanacho this summer, Soccernet.ng.
Iheanacho joined Sevilla in a free transfer last summer after his contract at Leicester City expired. But it has been a struggle so far.
In the first half of last season under coach Garcia Pimienta, the Super Eagles star struggled for game time. He had to play second fiddle to Isaac Romero, who could not even score goals consistently.
Due to his lack of game time, Iheanacho had to join Championship club Middlesbrough in the winter transfer window. But he managed only one goal and two assists in 15 appearances.
During his time at Middlesbrough, former Sevilla sporting director Victor Orta openly admitted that signing the Super Eagles star was a mistake.
So, at the end of his loan stint at Middlesbrough, it seemed set in stone that Iheanacho would leave Sevilla this summer.
However, things have been slow around the Super Eagles star. He has not attracted a lot of attention from clubs in Europe. And in the meantime, he has been getting minutes under new Sevilla coach Matias Almeyda.
Recall that weeks ago, Soccernet.ng reported that Pumas were seriously considering a transfer for Iheanacho. Now, according to Gola TV, the former Mexican champions have contacted Sevilla over a possible deal for Iheanacho.
This would be a significant drop for a player like Iheanacho, who showed so much promise in his early years and even played for Manchester City.
Will Sevilla sell Kelechi Iheanacho?
Coming into the summer, it seemed clear that Kelechi Iheanacho would leave Sevilla this summer.
But it seems that coach Almeyda has taken a liking to him, as he has featured in two of Sevilla’s games in pre-season.
Nonetheless, Sevilla will be willing to sell as Iheanacho is still not expected to play an important role for them in one day.
The Super Eagles star is valued at €4.5 million according to Transfermarkt. But Pumas UNAM would want to pay far less. Still, Sevilla would be open to making some money off a player who they acquired for free last summer.
Recall that the LaLiga have stringent financial rules. So, selling Iheanacho would free up their wage bill so they can register a new player for the new league season.