Big update on Iheanacho’s Leicester future – Exclusive

There is still a real possibility for Leicester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho to leave the club in the final days of the summer window, sources have told Football Insider.

The 26-year-old has started each of the last two Championship fixtures with the Foxes second in the table after three games.

However, Iheanacho is in the final year of his contract and is attracting interest ahead of the 1 September deadline.

Premier League clubs are considering a move for the Nigeria international, while the ex-Man City forward also has admirers in Saudi Arabia.

Iheanacho has notched one goal and one assist in four appearances across all competitions this term, totalling 234 minutes of action.

He managed just eight strikes and five assists across 35 appearances in the 2022-23 campaign as Leicester suffered relegation from the Premier League.

Just two seasons earlier, the forward enjoyed his best-ever campaign as Brendan Rodgers’ side lifted the FA Cup.

He managed a return of 19 goals and seven assists in 39 games in the 2020-21 season.

Iheanacho, who is capped 45 times by Nigeria, joined Leicester from Man City in 2017 for a reported fee of £25million.

The striker has racked up 56 goals and 34 assists in 210 games for the Midlands club, but could now leave for pastures new after six years.

His most recent contract extension at the King Power Stadium came in April 2021.

Club legend Jamie Vardy and Patson Daka are among the other strikers on the books at Leicester.

However, Football Insider revealed on Monday (21 August) that Daka is on the radar of Ligue 1 side Monaco after they missed out on Arsenal’s Folarin Balogun.

Leicester City man could explore possibility of loan move

Leicester City youngster Luke Thomas could leave the club on loan this summer, reports talkSPORT.

Thomas, 22, is a product of the Leicester City youth academy. He rose through the ranks and eventually made his first-team debut during the 2019/20 season, having since racked up 85 total appearances for the Foxes’ first-team.

But the left-back looks to have fallen down the pecking order this summer. He’s yet to make his debut for Enzo Maresca, having been an unused substitute in the club’s last two outings.

And talkSPORT are reporting that Thomas is ‘keen to play first-team football and may explore the possibility of heading out on loan’ this summer.

Maresca has some good options at left-back in Callum Doyle, Victor Kristiansen, and James Justin, with Manchester City loanee Doyle so far having that position locked down.

Thomas, for a 21 year old academy product, has a fair bit of experience.

And he’s got a lot of experience in the Premier League, so for a Championship club maybe, he could be a very good potential signing.

He’s a very dynamic and contemporary left-back in that he’s someone who can burst forward and contribute in attack, but he also does the basics of defending very well too.

With so many options at left-back, it seems fair that Leicester would look for a temporary club for Thomas, and given his pedigree, he shouldn’t be short of suitors should the Foxes decide to loan him out.

Leicester City have started the season well and Maresca might be keen to keep as much depth in his first-team as possible. But if Thomas pushes for a move away, then him leaving on loan for the season could be the best outcome for all involved.