Newcastle United urged to sign former £25million striker on free transfer this summer

Newcastle United have been urged to consider a move for Kelechi Iheanacho after the striker was released by Leicester City.

The 27-year-old has left the Foxes after seven years at the club - helping to clinch promotion back to the Premier League in his final season at the King Power. The Nigerian international struggled to hold down a first team spot under Enzo Maresca - who has now left to take charge at Chelsea. Iheanacho finished the season with just five goals in 25 league appearances.

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Yet despite a poor season in England's second tier, the Magpies have been told they could do a 'lot worse' than Iheanacho and been urged to snap him on a free. Newcastle have been linked with a move for the forward over the weekend.

Speaking on The Monday Show of The Everything is Black and White Podcast, Chronicle Live's Newcastle United Editor Aaron Stokes, accepted while a move for the striker wouldn't be a popular one - the need to manage the transfer budget sensibly might make it a necessity.

"I'll probably get stick for it, because I don't think it's going to be a popular choice but I would bring him in on a free. He didn't have the best of seasons at Leicester and struggled with injuries, struggled to get in the team behind the likes of Jamie Vardy but he is a very, very experienced in the Premier League.

"He was very, very good at City and he actually held his own for Leicester in the Premier League despite not being the most clinical. He can play off the right and he's left footed, so for a free transfer I don't think fans should turn their noses up - even though I know it's not the most exciting.

"It's not someone to really get you excited but if you're talking about building squad depth and talking about this hailed third striker that Newcastle need so much, I think they could do a lot worse."

Last season saw Newcastle United struggle at times up top with Callum Wilson missing large parts of the seasons, leaving Alexander Isak to shoulder the burden for goals.

There is still uncertainty to whether Wilson will still be at the club come the close the transfer window in September but even if the former Bournemouth striker stays, United will still need to add a third striker to their ranks. Iheanacho, who cost Leicester City £25million back in 2017, is also said to be attracting interest from Aston Villa.

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