3 weeks ago
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Barely three months after joining Spanish side Sevilla on a free transfer, Nigeria international, Kelechi Iheanacho, has been mooted for a January transfer move from the club, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Sevilla announced the signing of the 28-year-old in August with the former Leicester City player, whose contract with the Foxes expired at the end of last season, penning a two-year deal with the Andalusian club.
Last season, Iheanacho played majorly fringe roles in the Foxes’ return to the English Premier League, scoring six goals and providing three assists in 26 appearances.
His fortune has not changed either since joining Sevilla. The Nigerian has made just six appearances and played a meagre 282 minutes from a possible 1,080 minutes in the Spanish League.
While he is yet to get his first LaLiga goal, the former Leicester City man opened his goal account for Sevilla in a Copa del Rey first-round clash against modest Madrid club Las Rozas.
Iheanacho grabbed a brace as Sevilla defeated Rozas 3-0 to progress to the next round of the Spanish Cup.
The Super Eagles forward got his first and Sevilla’s second around the hour mark when he tapped in from close range from a Juanlu Sanchez cross.
He doubled his tally in the 79th minute. Initially laying off the ball to his teammate for an easy finish, Iheanacho had to take the chance for himself after Peque Fernandez failed to take the assist.
Despite the brace, the Nigerian was dropped to the bench once again in their 2-0 defeat to Real Sociedad over the weekend.
Garcia Pimienta sent him in 10 minutes before the end of the game. Iheanacho had the chance to reduce the deficit, but he spurned a glorious chance after rounding the keeper. He could not wrap his foot around the ball to get the shot on target, with only the post at his mercy.
Unlike his compatriot Chidera Ejuke, who has hit the ground running since joining the Seville-based outfit, Iheanacho is yet to impress at his new club and it’s abundantly clear that nothing has changed after three months.
Sevilla clearly expected more from him, however, and now Estadio Deportivo are suggesting that the La Liga side could look to sell him as early as January.
According to Capology, the Nigerian is the second highest earner in the first-team squad behind Saul Niguez with a £76,907 weekly wage.
His underwhelming performance since joining the club has led to fans and stakeholders questioning whether he is deserving of anywhere close to that remuneration and are considering shipping him out of the club.
A move back to a Championship club would probably be a more likely route back into English football, though he would surely have to think about earning less than currently for any move to take place.
At 28 years of age, he still has a long time left in the game, injuries permitting, and it will be interesting to see which clubs, if any, want to take a chance on him.
