A highly placed sourced in the camp of West Ham has revealed talks with Manchester City Nigerian forward Kelechi Iheanacho is back on after City lowered their demands.
Known and respected for having inside knowledge about West Ham transfer stories, and issues about the club @ExWHUemployee told Man City Watch, that West Ham resumed talks with the 20 year old after City lowered their fee for the buy back.
Iheanacho’s proposed move to West Ham has dragged on for months despite the speed at which talks progressed at the initial stage, which Man City insistence on a buy back clause said to be holding the deal.
Q: What’s the status on Kelechi Iheanacho to West Ham? A few weeks ago it looked a dead cert, now Leicester are odds-on at the bookies and things have gone a little quiet. I understand City’s demand for a buy-back clause could be causing problems?
Answer – The problem with Iheanacho, like you say, is that City have demanded a buy-back clause to be part of the deal. The player himself doesn’t want to leave and this is also seen as a way of appeasing the transfer. The buy-back clause is said to be quite low and with Kelechi making it clear he only really wants to stay in Britain so he can obtain citizenship – and this has made us rethink our offer. A bid has been made and we are still keen but further negotiations are still required.
Q– West Ham are also keen on Olivier Giroud of Arsenal. Would it be the end of your interest in Kelechi if you sign him up or is Bilic after multiple strikers?
Answer– I think Bilic would like to sign both Giroud and Iheanacho. We struggled massively last season for not having enough forward options throughout the campaign, with first choice Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho spending more time on the treatment table than the pitch! If both forwards could be obtained for around £20m-£25m then I think we would sign both seeing as we offered £35m for one forward last year.
Ade Emmanuel
