Celtic backed to complete striker deal but warned to 'stop playing silly games' with key transfer condition
Celtic told striker deal is a ‘no brainer’ with ‘deal already done’
Celtic have been told a decision to extend Kelechi Iheanacho’s contract this summer should be a ‘no brainer’ - but Hoops officials have been warned they must stop playing with fire in the transfer market.
Iheanacho has become somewhat of a cult hero at Parkhead after scoring a series of vital goals to help Celtic claim a league and Scottish Cup double, but could depart the club this summer with his current contract set to expire in the coming weeks, although the club do hold an option to extend this by a further year if they wish.
The Nigerian suffered various fitness issues since signing for the club on a free transfer last September, but ended the season as a fan favourite after scoring a crucial last-minute penalty in a 3-2 win over Motherwell that kept Celtic on course for the league title, while he also came off the bench to score the clinching third goal in the 3-1 Scottish Cup win over Dunfermline Athletic last weekend.
The 29-year-old has been unequivocally clear that he’d like to extend his stay with the Scottish champions, and Premier Sports punditry duo Alan Hutton and Michael Stewart think it makes sense to extend his contract in Glasgow after his contributions this season - though the latter says any deal must come with a crucial caveat.
Former Scotland international Stewart believes Celtic must avoid repeating the mistake they made during the last summer transfer window if they are to exercise the option in Iheanacho’s contract and tie him down for a further 12 months.
“He wants to stay,” said Stewart on the Scottish Football Social Club. “It was definitive. The deal is in place, the club have the option and they can trigger it if if they want. It's not like they need to negotiate here, they just need to decide if they want to trigger it. For all the reasons Alan has spoken about before, I'd be very surprised if they weren't [triggering the option].
“Look at the debacle they had this season in terms of not having a striker, then signing Iheanacho because they didn't have anything. He's already there, the deal is effectively done, I don't know the ins and outs of the financial package. But even if you only get him as an impact player, the quality he has means he's somebody you want in the squad.
“It doesn't mean you won't go and sign a mainstay number nine striker, but to have him as an option it makes a lot of sense to keep him - on the basis of going to get another number nine. If the club start to play silly games again, and look at it like ‘if we can get him fit again, we’ll be alright’, then it’s dangerous territory you’re slipping into.”
Co-host Hutton added: “I would [extend his deal]. I got asked this question at the weekend. He's came into the club, not played a lot of football, had certain injuries throughout the season and you could tell he wasn't right when he first came in. His technical ability is always there, you can see what he is capable of. He's impacted games, scored goals - important goals - off the bench. I feel, if you were to give him another deal and it is financially good for the club and player, I think it's a no brainer.
“He's 29. He isn't old. He's got plenty of football left in him. At the start, they had to manage his minutes but they won't have to do that moving forward if he gets through the pre-season and his fitness is okay. Why would you not have someone with that ability? His quality is there for everyone to see.”
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