FC Barca target Iheanacho, Genk want £20m for Ndidi

FC Barca target Iheanacho, Genk want £20m for Ndidi

Barcelona are believed to be keeping a firm eye on rising Manchester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho.

According to reports, Barcelona, who missed out on signing Iheanacho  for  nothing after he  helped Nigeria win the  UAE 2013  FIFA  Under-17 World Cup, where he also won the Golden Ball, have decided to renew their interest in the 20-year-old following his performances for  his Premier League club and the  Super Eagles.

The Spanish giants,  who arguably boast the  best  attackers  in world football in Lionel  Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar, believe  playing with the superstars in the same team  could help  Iheanacho  fulfil his full potential.

According to  sportinastorm.com on Wednesday, Barcelona are encouraged to revive their interest in the attacker because they believe he could be unhappy at being pushed further down the pecking order  at Etihad Stadium following the imminent arrival  of the talented  Brazil  forward Gabriel Jesus from Palmeiras. Sergio Aguero and Nolito are ahead of Iheanacho in the striking pecking order.

Man City paid a fee of £27m  for the 19-year-old Jesus, who has six caps for Brazil.  The Rio 2016 Olympic gold medallist will join the Citizens in January.

And manager Pep Guardiola  warned  that  Iheanacho’s chances of first team football this season  could be limited.

The Nigerian, who in August  signed  a two-year contract extension – keeping him at the club until 2021,  has started just three Premier League games scoring three  league goals this  season.

“Of course he (Iheanacho)  deserves to play, but there are many others who deserve to play too,” Manchester Evening News quoted Guardiola as saying on Wednesday.

“Our job is so uncomfortable for these kind of decisions.

“Normally when these guys don’t train good, when they are not nice guys with their team-mates, it doesn’t matter, but that is not the case with Kele.”

Guardiola added, “My advice is keep going, keep fighting, sooner or later everything is coming back, and of course he’s going to have his minutes. Until now he played good, but in the big teams sometimes that happens.You can play just 11 players and that’s all,”

Meanwhile, Belgian club Genk  have rejected Leicester City’s £16m bid  for  versatile Nigeria defender Wilfred Ndidi, insisting on £20m, according to reports.

Leicester, who have been struggling in the Premier League since  N’Golo Kante moved to Chelsea during the summer transfer window, view  19-year-old Ndidi as a capable replacement for the Frenchman.