Midlands clubs West Brom and Aston Villa eye Super Eagles striker Kelechi Iheanacho

SUPER Eagles striker Kelechi Iheanacho has become a major transfer targets for English Premier League clubs in the Midlands with both newly-promoted West Bromwich Albion (WBA) and Aston Villa keen on signing him ahead of the new season.

Iheanacho, 23, started off the season slowly but has gradually found his feet, scoring 10 goals in 24 Leicester appearances last season, coming on strong during the post-coronavirus restart. Currently second choice striker behind Leicester legend Jamie Vardy, Iheanacho is not guaranteed a starting place at the King Power Stadium, irrespective of his form, which has alerted other clubs.

Already, Newcastle United have made enquiries about Iheanacho as Brazilian striker Joelinton bought for £40m by Newcastle last summer, has been hugely disappointing. Now, WBA and Aston Villa, who just managed to avoid relegation on the last day of the season, have joined the fray.

Either club would be ideal for Iheanacho as they are both nearby and changing clubs would mean he does not have to move from his current home in the East Midlands. Iheanacho scored 10 goals in 26 appearances across all competitions for Leicester last season as they finished fifth in the Premier League and both Villa and WBA need that kind of firepower upfront.

At WBA for instance, neither of its three strikers in Hal Robson-Kanu, Charlie Austin or Kenneth Zohore are considered good enough for the Premier League. Iheanacho has scored 21 goals in 117 Premier League appearances for both Manchester City and Leicester City, despite mainly being a sub for Sergio Aguero and Jamie Vardy.

If he joins WBA or Villa, however, Iheanacho will be their first choice striker but it remains to be seen if either club can meet Leicester City's asking price. Bought by Leicester for £25m in the summer of 2017 Iheanacho's contract with the club until 2022, so the club will be looking to recoup this money.

It remains to be seen how much Iheanacho would cost but he is in the final two years of his £60,000-a-week deal at the King Power Stadium. This summer could be Leicester’s final chance to get a decent fee for him and the club would not want to risk losing him on a free transfer.