Kelechi Iheanacho – The Neglected Having The Last Laugh

Kelechi Iheanacho has by far had the most successful Premier League season of his career, which was crowned with a historic FA Cup triumph with Leicester City.

I believe it’s time for the Nigerian international to test himself in the most coveted league in the world, the Champions League.

For Iheanacho to do so, he needs to associate with the bigwigs in Premier League or even with other top European clubs.

There are Premier League top sides who are in need of a clinical goalscorer like Manchester City who needs a replacement for Sergio Aguero, also, it’s been a problem positioning for United and Liverpool respectively.

European champions Chelsea surely can’t go into a new season with Timo Werner as their go-to frontman because he’s a ‘mess’. While Tottenham Hotspur may also be in the market should Harry Kane depart for a new club.

Any of these clubs may realistically be tempted by a striker who is a proven quality in the Premier League which in my opinion, Iheanacho stands more chance than any other Premier League player.

‘Seniorman Kelz’ as he is fondly called by his teammates and fans is coming off the back of the best season of his career; scoring 12 times in the Premier League more than double what he managed the previous season.

He also enjoyed a befitting end to his favorite competition the FA Cup by winning it and scoring a record of four goals including the winner in the semifinal against Southampton, which lifted ‘The Foxes’ to their first cup final in 52 years.

Photo by Michael Regan – The FA/The FA via Getty Images

Iheanacho was named the Premier League Player of the Month for March, while his goal against Crystal Palace in the Premier League was voted Goal of the Season by his club.

No doubt, ‘senior man’ has suddenly become one of the hottest African strikers in Europe and having been linked with top clubs.

He has shown a high level of confidence, precision, and tact in his play and the ability to take any goal-scoring opportunities that come his way. Indeed this is the Iheanacho everyone wants to associate with, the neglected having the last laugh!.

However, before all these milestones, during a patchy run of form, Iheanacho was subjected to relentless criticism from Nigerian media, he was dropped from the national team by coach Gernot Rohr.

Iheanacho was ‘broken’ when he was excluded from the squad for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). It didn’t stop there, he was unfairly criticized and judged by different people, fans, pundits, and even friends.

Many wrote him off, but thankfully some of these people have now turned around to praise him. That’s life!.

The reward of such a fantastic season was a new and improved three-year contract which will keep him at Leicester City until June 2024 and his transfer market value has also shot up to 20 Million Euros.

Indeed, Iheanacho is having the last laugh!

His beloved mother, Mercy, now of blessed memory, can only be proud of her son.