Everton’s efforts to improve their offensive have led them to target Leicester City.
According to Ignazio Genuardi, the Toffees will prioritize the signing of the Nigerian after failing to sign any of their alternative targets.
The Premier League club considered signing Moussa Dembele and El Bilal Touré, but were unable to make a compelling enough offer to secure either transfer.
This means that Sean Dyche’s side will now focus on Iheanacho, who is facing an uncertain future at the King Power Stadium.
The team’s relegation to the Championship has cast doubt on the forward’s future at the club beyond this summer.
In the summer of 2017, Iheanacho moved to Leicester from Manchester City in a rumoured £25 million transaction.
However, it has been reported that Everton are interested in signing the 26-year-old this summer, with Leicester demanding a fee of £10 to 15 million.
Iheanacho’s current deal expires in 12 months, putting Leicester in a difficult negotiation situation.
Unless a new contract is agreed upon, the Championship club risk losing him on a free transfer in 2024 if they do not cash in now or in January.
This has opened the door for him to leave this summer, amid Premier League interest.
Iheanacho has been a key member of the club since joining from Manchester City six years ago.
During his tenure in Leicestershire, the striker has 30 Premier League goals and 21 assists.
He has helped the squad achieve successive top-five places in the Premier League table, as well as playing a key role in the club’s first-ever FA Cup victory in 2021.
However, he only made 11 league starts last season as he dropped down the pecking order of the first team squad.
Following the departures of Harvey Barnes and James Maddison this summer, Leicester’s attacking options have been reduced.
Enzo Maresca’s team has been without two of their major players in recent seasons, with
Further business is expected from Leicester between now and the 1 September deadline in a few weeks, but it remains to be seen what the future holds for Iheanacho.
The forward has been an impressive figure for the club at times, but he has never lived up to the potential he displayed as a teenager at Manchester City.
At Leicester, he was usually second fiddle to Jamie Vardy, only occasionally able to overshadow the star striker.
Given the length of his contract, selling him now makes the most sense for Leicester.
If they can get up to £10 million for the 26-year-old, it would be fantastic business for the club, especially given their need to acquire finances in order to improve the squad.
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