Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel joins the list of those eyeing Leicester's Kelechi Iheanacho

CHELSEA manager Thomas Tuchel has added Super Eagles striker Kelechi Iheanacho to the shortlist of the players he wants to bring to Stamford Bridge next season as speculation grows that Olivier Giroud may be leaving the club.

Iheanacho, 24, was bought from Manchester City by Leicester City in the summer of 2017 for £25m but the purchase included a £50m buy-back clause. This season, Iheanacho has been a revelation, scoring 11 goals in his last eight games, including getting his first hat trick in a 5-0 victory over Sheffield United on March 14.

According to Spanish publication Fichajes, Mr Tuchel is very convinced in the ability of Iheanacho to improve his team’s attack next season. Mr Tuchel has the striker pencilled down in case he misses out on signing Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland, who has been touted as a possible recruit.

Apparently, Mr Tuchel is not the biggest fan of Tammy Abraham, leaving the England international out of Chelsea’s starting line-up a few times in recent weeks. In an attempt to fend off any approach for Iheanacho, Leicester City have offered him a new deal that will keep him at the club until 2024.