Reports have emerged about the possibility of Kelechi Iheanacho and Taiwo Awoniyi linking up at Nottingham Forest as the Tricky Trees are close to signing the Leicester City attacker.
Iheanacho did his best for the Foxes in 2022/23, but it was not enough to save them from relegation to the EFL Championship next season.
New reports have now emerged of Iheanacho being linked with Forest, which excites Nigerians because of the prospect of two of Nigeria's U17 heroes playing together once more.
The pairing of Iheanacho and Awoniyi could Forest in the Premier League next season.
Kelechi Iheanacho is reportedly set to join Nottingham Forest on a four-year deal. A fee of £8m is said to have been agreed between Forest and Leicester. Only a few details remain to be settled before the medical. #NFFC [@owngoalnigeria] pic.twitter.com/Peu5RxKwk8
— Forest Watch (@ForestWatch_) July 1, 2023
Few details away from Iheanacho Nottingham Forest move, report claims
Nigeria news outlet OGN claims that the Tricky Trees, who survived relegation from the Premier League at the expense of the Foxes, have gone ahead of AS Roma in the race to sign Iheanacho.
Prior to the report, José Mourinho’s side were believed to be advancing in talks to sign AFCON 2023 squad hopeful Iheanacho to provide cover for the injured Tammy Abraham and compete with him when he recovers.
However, Forest look to have outbid Roma for Iheanacho and are close to agreeing on a four-year deal with the forward, which will be signed in the coming days, according to reports.
Forest will pay £8 million to Leicester City for Iheanacho, who are keen to make the deal happen quickly for squad rebuilding purposes as the new European football season is less than eight weeks away.
OGN also reports that Iheanacho wants to remain in England and is leaning towards the Forest deal.
Super Eagles fans are excited about the prospect of Awoniyi and Iheanacho linking up as it brings back memories of their time in the U-17 national team. Iheanacho and Awoniyi led Nigeria to the title in 2013, with the Foxes man winning the Golden Ball for the best player of the tournament.
Awoniyi scored the second most goals behind ‘Senior Man’ in that tournament, which made him crucial to their success as well.
Fans have taken to social media to express glee over a possible linkup of both players, who know each other well.
Fans react to Iheanacho and Awoniyi link-up at Forest
One fan went on to list the strikers Iheanacho will be playing with at the City Ground if the move becomes official, while talking up the pairing of Iheanacho and Awoniyi.
“Kelechi Iheanacho, Taiwo Awoniyi, Chris Wood, Emmanuel Dennis, Sam Surridge, Ui-Jo Hwang. Nottingham Forest about to have a more fiery frontline for 2023/24,” the fan with the handle @dezfootie wrote on Twitter.
“Iheanacho is the perfect complement for Taiwo. Literally a replay of history is about to go down,” he added.
Kelechi Iheanacho 🇳🇬
Taiwo Awoniyi 🇳🇬
Chris Wood 🇳🇿
Emmanuel Dennis 🇳🇬
Sam Surridge 🏴
Ui-Jo Hwang 🇰🇷Nottingham Forest about to have a more fiery frontline for 2023/24. Iheanacho is the perfect complement for Taiwo. Literally a replay of history is about to go down. 👏🏾 pic.twitter.com/ZNbEIFqWBg
— Déz (@dezfootie) July 1, 2023
Jamie Martin, a football commentator that focuses on Nottingham Forest, wrote: “Kelechi Iheanacho reportedly set to join Nottingham Forest on a four-year deal for £8m. Very creative forward – if played more, and under the right management, I think it’d be a shrewd signing for Forest.”
Kelechi Iheanacho reportedly set to join Nottingham Forest on a four-year deal for £8m, reports @owngoalnigeria
Very creative forward – if played more, and under the right management, I think it’d be a shrewd signing for Forest.#NFFC #LCFC pic.twitter.com/QNzX5lZi2a
— Jamie Martin (@ImJamieMartin) July 1, 2023
Another fan with the handle @amonizfootball replied to Jamie Martin’s tweet, stating: “To put into context how fantastic of a deal Iheanacho for £8 million is, Forest recently spent almost double that on 31-year-old Chris Wood.”
Charlie Carmichael, a reporter, criticiced Leicester for allowing Iheanacho to go at that price, saying, “If the Iheanacho to Forest for £8m rumours are true, it’s shambolic business. Fee should be at least double that, otherwise keep him for a promotion push then see where both parties are at next summer. Unless he’s actively pushing to go, a sale at that fee makes zero sense.”
If the Iheanacho to Forest for £8m rumours are true, it’s shambolic business. Fee should be at least double that, otherwise keep him for a promotion push then see where both parties are at next summer.
Unless he’s actively pushing to go, a sale at that fee makes zero sense #LCFC
— Charlie Carmichael (@CharlieJC93) July 2, 2023
Goalball Live will bring you more updates on the deal as it progresses.
This article was most recently revised and updated 1 year ago
