A full pre-season under his belt, and Kelechi Iheanacho will be even better than before. We must extend his stay…
Kelechi Iheanacho was something of an enigma last campaign. Signed as a free agent out of sheer desperation after yet another diabolical transfer window, the Nigerian international had to endure his fair share of injury problems as well as constant question marks over his overall fitness.
Iheanacho has undoubted ability as a footballer
What can’t be denied is his undoubted ability as a footballer, something he showed on numerous occasions last term. And a great deal of credit is due to Brendan Rodgers for bringing Kelechi Iheanacho into the club after the summer transfer window closed.
And to think that the Board actually denied Brendan the medal he was due for his role in Celtic winning the Scottish Premiership this season.
Kelechi Iheanacho is a class act
There no denying that Kelechi Iheanacho is a class act. The former Leicester and Man City striker scored his fair share of late and vital goals from the bench, goals that proved ultra-important come the end of the campaign.
It wasn’t just his goals that made him stand out though, it was his overall play, and his ability to hold the ball up and turn opponents is up there with the very best. He is a fantastic footballer, and you can see why he’s played at the very top level.
Fitness is of course the concern
His fitness is of course a concern, with his inability to start a game the only negative aspect, but all in all he’s a player we would be wise to keep ahold of heading into the new campaign.
A full pre-season would do Kelechi the world of good as it’s something he didn’t have last year as he was very much training on his own. A rigorous work out with the rest of his teammates would elevate his fitness levels and make him a more effective player.
Many of the Celtic players not going to the World Cup will be on the beach
And while many of his Celtic teammates not going to the World Cup are currently on the beach, Kelechi is busy working with his own personal trainer in Manchester. That shows his real intent to get back to full fitness and should be something that Celtic should factor into their evaluation of his situation regarding staying on at the club.
𝐊𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐢 𝐈𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐨 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐟𝐟-𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 🍀🇳🇬
After those crucial goals in the title run-in that helped deliver the Double, Kelechi is already putting in the work with personal trainer Seedorf Kweku Duah.
Looking fully committed, if he… pic.twitter.com/qI7JSv1LuT
— Celtic Essential 🍀 (@CelticEssential) May 29, 2026
We require at least two top quality centre forwards, and Kelechi should be one of them in my opinion. He’s proven at the top level, as well as knowing the club and our game after his eight month spell in the hoops.
A one year deal with a year option is the likely outcome
A one year deal was the sensible option when he signed back in September, but we really need to extend that stay as we would be hard pressed in getting another player of his calibre for nothing.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
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3 Comments
Id take him that goal in cup final done it for me but its getting rid of the deadwood onky right Celtic cover the loss of losing wages going to a lower pay not all but enough to make them go
Wouldn’t say it is as straightforward decision upon kelchi, as your claiming imo?
Will give great credit for kelchi trying to get up his fitness levels, but that has to be at a minimum 70 minute player, and getting fit and staying fit can be 2 completely different situations, to consider also?
Wouldn’t question the quality factor whatsoever, as already provided that to ourselves, especially within our run in to the season.
However, a 1 year rolling extension of a contract, might not suit himself either, when you factor in his age factor also imo?
How we are going to address our striker position, within forming our 25man squad is another decision that a manager is going to have to consider?
Without the prospect of Maeda available next season, we could be looking at 3 proper strikers within our squad building process now imo? Especially finding another Maeda is going to be a big ask, who can do a duel role?
Think Osmand has already shown enough to be considered as 1 of our potential 3 strikers already, for next season imo?
Kelchi still has more within his overall game than idah imo?
Especially if we can get him fitter?
And that remains the stumbling block, regarding a contract?
But January also showed, that finding the striker quality we are looking for, isn’t easily found within our price bracket either?
So kelchi could well be a safer bet in that regards for ourselves, but still leaves a minimum of at least 1 more required?
Without a sell on value for kelchi available really, would possibly take some convincing from a manager, that a 3 or 4 year contract would be good business for our board, in how they like to operate?
So could be some time before the kelchi issue could get resolved, and personally wouldn’t like to call the outcome either way at this stage imo, within our squad building process?
We won’t get any forwards of his ability, he is the best forward in Scotland. Celtic plc will want a cheaper option.