Leicester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho is set to leave the club upon the expiration of his contract at the end of June. Iheanacho, who joined Leicester from Manchester City for £25 million in 2017, will depart after seven years with the club.
Despite his talent, Iheanacho struggled to consistently establish himself as Leicester’s main striker, making just ten starts in the Championship last season, with Jamie Vardy and Patson Daka preferred. Iheanacho scored 61 goals and provided 34 assists across 232 games for Leicester, and he is best remembered for his remarkable FA Cup record of 13 goals in 19 games.
As Leicester prepares for Iheanacho’s departure, new boss Steve Cooper is considering replacing the 27-year-old with a player he knows well: Chris Wood. Wood, whose contract with Nottingham Forest ends this summer, could join Leicester for free. The New Zealand forward, who Cooper previously managed at Forest, scored 15 goals and provided one assist in all competitions last season.
Cooper prefers a target man up front, a role Wood fits perfectly. Unlike Vardy and Daka, who prefer making runs behind the defense, Wood can play as the big man up top, allowing midfielders and wingers to play off him. Cooper praised Wood’s leadership qualities during his time at Forest, describing him as “a leader in the dressing room” who can make a significant difference for the team.
Wood’s Premier League experience, with 69 goals and eight assists in 227 games, could provide a much-needed boost for Leicester as they aim to stay in the division.
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