Manchester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho is close to completing his transfer to Leicester City after being pushed out by Pep Guardiola and Gabriel Jesus’ arrival.

The Nigerian was linked with West Ham, Monaco and Tottenham this summer, but the 2015-16 Premier League champions have apparently won the race for his signature. And despite Leicester already well equipped up front with five forwards, Iheanacho is primed to break into a consistent starting role.

The 20-year-old has tremendous skill and an uncanny ability to be in the right place at the right time. He scored 14 goals and created five more in his first professional campaign under Manuel Pellegrini and earned his first senior international cap as a result.

His second season started excellently, as he scored twice and assisted another pair in back-to-back starts against Manchester United and Bournemouth, but it ended poorly as he fell behind new arrival Gabriel Jesus and played only 10 after the turn of the year, starting once.

A move away is the perfect way for the young striker to get his career going again, and he won’t have as big a problem with playing time at Leicester.

Of the five strikers already at Leicester, four are 29 or older and two have been heavily linked with moves away. Islam Slimani and Ahmed Musa, both signed last summer, didn’t play up to expectations and are reportedly being shopped by Craig Shakespeare.

Leonardo Ulloa has experienced a surprising u-turn after he said he would never play for the club again last January but is now reportedly discussing a possible contract extension.

Shinji Okazaki is a reliable squad player and gives everything he has when he is on the pitch, but his six goals in 41 appearances last season hardly guarantees him a spot in the line-up. Jamie Vardy is one year older and likely a step slower, so injecting a youthful player who his hungry to prove himself is a great idea.

Iheanacho was one of England’s most prolific strikers in 2015-16, scoring once every 86 minutes. His skill and young energy will be a wonderful addition to Craig Shakespeare’s ageing squad.

If the 20-year-old Nigerian can replicate his form that earned him a nomination for the 2016 Golden Boy award, Leicester will have no problem further establishing themselves as a Premier League team.

The young striker is far too young to be ignored and his career trajectory is staggering. Manchester City are expected to include a buy-back clause in his Leicester transfer, and for good reason.

Iheanacho showed that he is capable of being a star two seasons ago and will reaffirm that this season with the Foxes.

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