Relegation-threatened Newcastle are reportedly considering a move to persuade rejuvenated Leicester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho to dump their Premier League rivals for St. Jamesâ Park in the January transfer window.
Newcastle, who crashed out of the FA Cup following their 3-0 defeat by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, are on the market for a proven striker before the January transfer window closes on Wednesday night. They are one point above the drop zone and are in danger of a second relegation in three years.
According to reports, they have had two bids rejected for Feyenoordâs Danish striker Nicolai Jorgensen, but the Dutch giants have demanded ÂŁ20m to part with their prized asset.
With Feyenoord playing hardball over the 27-year-old Denmark forward, under-pressure Magpies manager Rafael Benitez has reportedly shifted his attention to Iheanacho as his plan B in case he fails to land Jorgensen.
Super Eagles forward Iheanacho, who has started just two Premier League games for the Foxes since joining from Man City last summer, hit the back of the net twice in Leicesterâs 5-1 defeat of Peterborough in their FA Cup fixture against Peterborough at the ABAX Stadium on Saturday to take his tally to four in the competition this season.
The Mirror claimed on Sunday that Newcastle had renewed their interest in Iheanacho, who shunned them to join Leicester in a ÂŁ25m deal in August.
Meanwhile, meanwhile Iheanachoâs King Power Stadium compatriot Ahmed Musa is expected to join his former Russian side CSKA Moscow on Monday.
According to his agent, Tony Harris, the 25-year-old Nigeria winger, who joined Leicester in a club-record ÂŁ16.5m deal in the summer of 2016, will have a medical at CSKA ahead of a season-long loan move.
âLeicester and CSKA have agreed on the transfer of Musa. Ahmed will move to CSKA on loan until the end of the season,ââ Harris told Championat.com.
Musa, who is aiming to boost his chances of making Nigeria coach Gernot Rohrâs Russia 2018 World Cup squad, was only involved in the Premier League in the current campaign when he was an unused substitute for the game at Liverpool on December 30.
Punch
