Kelechi Iheanacho’s future at Celtic has taken another twist, with clubs from Saudi Arabia and Qatar now entering the race for the Super Eagles striker, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 29-year-old became a free agent after his contract with the Scottish champions expired at the end of June, although Celtic have remained in talks with the Nigerian forward over a possible extension.
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill recently confirmed his desire to keep Iheanacho at Parkhead, admitting that he wants the striker’s future resolved quickly so he can participate fully in pre-season preparations.
However, fresh reports from Scotland suggest the Hoops may now face serious competition from the Middle East.
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New twist emerges in Kelechi Iheanacho’s Celtic future
According to the Daily Record, Iheanacho currently has several lucrative offers on the table, with clubs from Saudi Arabia and Qatar joining long-standing interest from Turkey and Major League Soccer.
The latest development could significantly complicate Celtic’s efforts to retain the former Leicester City striker. Iheanacho enjoyed a remarkable resurgence during the second half of last season, scoring crucial goals as the Hoops completed a domestic double.
The Super Eagles forward netted six goals in nine substitute appearances during the Premiership run-in and also delivered decisive performances in the Scottish Cup, including a brace in the semi-final against St Mirren and a goal in the final.
Despite his preference to remain in Glasgow, Celtic’s delay in concluding negotiations could hand rival suitors a major advantage.
Middle Eastern clubs are expected to offer significantly higher financial packages than the Scottish champions, presenting Iheanacho with an opportunity to secure one of the most lucrative contracts of his career.
Celticshorts also reported that the Turkish clubs were leading the chase outside Scotland, while Brazilian outfit Vasco da Gama also briefly explored a move before interest cooled.
Now, the emergence of Saudi and Qatari interests has further complicated matters. With Celtic’s pre-season already underway and UEFA Champions League qualifiers approaching later this month, there is growing pressure on the Scottish champions to accelerate negotiations.
Manager Martin O’Neill previously stressed the importance of giving Iheanacho a full pre-season after the Nigerian struggled with fitness issues last year following an interrupted summer.
The former Manchester City striker remains highly valued within the Celtic dressing room, but the longer negotiations continue, the greater the risk of losing him to financially stronger rivals.
For now, Iheanacho is carefully assessing his options, but Celtic may need to move quickly if they are to avoid seeing one of last season’s key performers head elsewhere this summer.
