Kelechi Iheanacho may end up staying at man City as suitors cannot afford his £85,000 a week

SUPER Eagles striker Kelechi Iheanacho may end up staying at Manchester City after all and disappointing the plethora of Premier League clubs seeking his services after he declared that he would only leave the Etihad Stadium for a big club who could match his wages.

Manchester City  revealed that they will let Iheanacho go if a buyer matches their £25m asking price after he became surplus to requirements over the last season when coach Pep Guardiola bought Gabriel Jesus to strengthen his attack. This sparkled a flurry of enquiries with the likes of West Ham, Everton, Swansea City, Leicester City and Crystal Palace all seeking said to have made bids.

Iheanacho, 20, started only five Premier League games in 20 appearances, scoring four goals during the last campaign.  His failure to make any meaningful impact and Manchester City Pep Guardiola’s reported move to sign either want-away Borussia Dortmund forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang or Monaco's Kylian Mbappe during the summer transfer window, has left a dark cloud hanging over Iheanacho’s future at the club.

Kelechi, whose contract at the Etihad expires in 2021, is said to have told the club that he would stay and fight for his place in Guardiola’s side. Family sources have said the star, who earns a reported £85,000 per week at Man City, would only leave the Premier League giants for a big club.

They say he is not ready to take a wage cut as the clubs who have shown an interest in his services are not in a position to match what he earns at the Eithad. Former Nigerian captain Henry Nwosu, who is close to the player and his family, confirmed that Iheanacho would not leave Manchester City in the summer.

Mr Nwosu said: “I met his brother in Owerri and he told me that the reports that Iheanacho will move to another club to enable him to get playing time are not true. I’m sure the player will stay at Man City to fight for his place next season.

“He’s a good player but I think the coach is playing him out of position. If the coach allows him to play as a support striker or as a midfielder, he will get best out of him.”

Iheanacho said last month he had no intention to quit Man City in the summer, revealed that he was already preparing for next season. Manchester City finished third in the English Premiership and will be playing in the Uefa Champions League next season.