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Southampton: Should the Saints go in for Kelechi Iheanacho?

By Chris Hughes

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 11: Kelechi Iheanacho of Leicester in action during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Leicester City at Emirates Stadium on August 11, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 11: Kelechi Iheanacho of Leicester in action during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Leicester City at Emirates Stadium on August 11, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /
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Southampton are in dire need of fresh firepower – should they go back to a forward they were linked with last summer?

With Charlie Austin out injured until at least next month and both Manolo Gabbiadini and Shane Long struggling for consistent, the Saints should definitely be considering a new striker this month.

Mauricio Pellegrino’s side have been strongly linked with Guido Carillo this month, news that hasn’t been met completely positively by the Southampton fanbase. The Argentinian forward would cost a similar amount to Mario Lemina, but as a striker only has 60 goals in 234 career games.

Meanwhile Leicester City are reportedly looking to offload Nigerian forward Kelechi Iheanacho just half a year after bringing in the striker for £25 million.

The Saints were apparently among the teams in the running for the 21-year-old in the summer when Manchester City were originally looking to offload to the attacker, having brought in Gabriel Jesus this time last year.

Related Story: Would a defeat to Fulham be the last straw?

LEICESTER, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 19: Kelechi Iheanacho of Leicester City during the Carabao Cup Quarter-Final match between Leicester City and Manchester City at The King Power Stadium on December 19, 2017 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
LEICESTER, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 19: Kelechi Iheanacho of Leicester City during the Carabao Cup Quarter-Final match between Leicester City and Manchester City at The King Power Stadium on December 19, 2017 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /

However the young Nigerian hasn’t really managed to stamp his mark on the Foxes’ starting XI, sitting behind Jamie Vardy, Shinji Okazaki and Islam Slimani in the pecking order. As a result, the former Champions could look to move on one of their high earners this January window.

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It remains unclear whether Leicester would want to sell to a direct Premier League rival, but if a cut-price deal is on the cards, Southampton should definitely make their interest known.

Iheanacho may of only started twice in the league this season but he still has excellent potential which he displayed at Manchester City.

The 21-year-old scored 21 goals in two seasons after joining the senior side, boasting an incredible minute-to-goal ratio that was among the best in the league.

Naturally pacey and with a keen eye for goal, it wouldn’t be greatly surprising if Iheanacho would want to move on this month. With the Saints struggling for goals, he would almost certainly slot in as the side’s first-choice striker.

Despite dispatching Fulham in the FA Cup to end their win-less run this past weekend, the Saints are still struggling in the league, with just 20 points from 22 games.