Transfer Centre

Pep Guardiola: 'Kelechi Iheanacho departure is close'

By Giuseppe Labellarte, Reporter | 19 July 2017

Guardiola: 'Iheanacho close to leaving City'

Pep Guardiola confirms that Kelechi Iheanacho is on the verge of leaving Manchester City, but reveals that they have "an option to take him back".

Pep Guardiola has confirmed that striker Kelechi Iheanacho is on the verge of leaving Manchester City.

The 20-year-old has scored 21 goals during his time in the first team at the Etihad Stadium, but he made just six starts in the Premier League and Champions League last season.

Leicester City have been linked with the Nigeria international all summer, reports last week suggesting that a fee of £25m had been agreed between the two clubs.

Guardiola told a press conference in Texas that Iheanacho is close to a move away, though he hinted towards a buy-back clause being inserted in his contract.

"Kelechi is close to a move, it should be done in 10 days," the Spaniard told reporters. "We have an option to take him back.

"It is an honour to work with him. It's not easy for him as he didn't get a lot of chances [in the team], but his behaviour was good.

"Kelechi's a young player. He needs to play at that age and that's why he, and the club decided, it was best for him [to leave]."

Iheanacho was not on the plane bound for the United States on Monday when Man City flew out to begin their pre-season schedule.