Wolves and Ipswich Town 'enter talks' to sign striker with 42 Premier League goals

Wolves and Ipswich have reportedly entered talks to sign Sevilla attacker Kelechi Iheanacho.

The two Premier League clubs are eager to add firepower ahead of the rest of the season as they bid to avoid relegation to the Championship. Iheanacho, who has racked up 42 goals and 25 assists in 196 English top tier appearances throughout his career, has been touted as a solution.

Football Insider reports Wolves and Ipswich have “opened preliminary talks” to sign Iheanacho. Sevilla are said to have given the green light for the Nigerian forward to be loaned out for the rest of the campaign, an avenue both the Old Gold and the Tractor Boys are interested in exploring.

It’s unknown whether an option to buy would be included in any temporary move for Iheanacho but other Premier League sides and a host of clubs across Europe are keeping tabs. As a result, Wolves and Ipswich need to get a hurry on if they’re to win the race.

Still just 28 years of age, Iheanacho was once one of the Premier League’s most exciting young talents when he broke through at Manchester City. The option was there to stay and progress at the Etihad Stadium but the 55-time Nigeria international instead opted for a transfer to Leicester to meet his game time ambitions.

Iheanacho joined the Foxes just after their Premier League triumph but they were unsurprisingly unable to repeat such success in the following seasons as City began to dominate. The first campaign wasn’t overly positive for Iheanacho on an individual level, either, as the striker scored just three goals in 824 minutes played.

Many believed he’d made a mistake leaving City but he proved the doubters wrong in the years to come, eventually becoming a more regular starter. Jamie Vardy was always going to be the star forward but Iheanacho proved a reliable option for Leicester in both the Premier League and Championship before his eventual free transfer to Sevilla last summer.

How would Iheanacho fit in at Wolves?

New manager Vitor Pereira has proven in his early days at Molineux that he’s not afraid to show off some tactical versatility, changing up his system both from game to game and during matches. The 2-2 draw away at Tottenham Hotspur was a prime example as target man Jorgen Strand Larsen was benched in favour of the more agile Hwang Hee-Chan.

Iheanacho could theoretically slot into a similar role, either as a pacy option in behind or as a false nine to operate between the lines. The 28-year-old could also play just off the striker if Strand Larsen were to start, or he could come on as an impact substitute.

Starts certainly wouldn’t be guaranteed at Wolves - especially when talisman Matheus Cunha is available - but Iheanacho would have the opportunity to prove himself in the Premier League again. It’s been two and a half years since the forward was relegated to the Championship with Leicester and he’s not tasted English top tier action since.