Crystal Palace could have a bargain move on the agenda in January if Jean-Philippe Mateta is sold as Kelechi Iheanacho could be available.
Roy Hodgson looks keen to improve his forward options in January as the side has managed just 14 goals all season.
For Crystal Palace, this will be a concerning figure and the solution seems to be the sale of Jean-Philippe Mateta who has struggled to make an impact when playing.
Due to this, the £50k-a-week forward is believed to be likely to leave the club in January. Mateta wants out according to recent reports, which has left Palace looking into their options to replace him.
It now seems that in order to do this, Palace are looking back at an option they had looked at during the summer and throughout this campaign thus far, Kelechi Iheanacho.
Kelechi Iheanacho could be available in January
According to a report in the Standard, the possible sale of Mateta could lead to the arrival of an upgrade for the Selhurst Park side.
The 26-year-old could be available for as low as £8m which would then free up the funds for Palace to target Leicester City’s Iheanacho in what would be a solid upgrade.
Iheanacho would be available for a cut-price deal as it’s almost assured he won’t be extending his contract at the Foxes which expires in June.
The Nigerian forward is a player with proven Premier League goalscoring acumen and would provide some healthy competition for Odsonne Edouard up front.
Iheanacho stats and how he could help Crystal Palace
Starting his career at a senior level for Manchester City, the current £80k-a-week star burst out of the blocks scoring eight in 26 games.
But after this and a following decent season, he was sold to Leicester where he has spent seven seasons now.
He regularly contributed to a healthy amount of goals and assists considering he was mainly an understudy to Jamie Vardy.
This season in the Championship he’s managed five in 18 which isn’t the best return however with the creativity in this Palace side – Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise in particular – he could thrive given he is normally a clinical forward.
