CELTIC have missed out on the opportunity to bring Kelechi Iheanacho to Parkhead.
The Nigerian striker killed off any hope of a return to the Hoops when he signed for Turkish SECOND-TIER side Bursaspor today, according to a report in the Scottish Sun.
The champions had offered the 29-year-old Nigerian striker a two-year deal and manager Martin O’Neill had admitted he was keen to work again with the hitman who scored so many crucial goals for Celtic in their league and Cup-winning campaign.
Instead, though, Iheanacho has elected to sign for the Turks on a three-year contract.
THE LAST HURRAH…Kelechi Iheanacho celebrates scoring Celtic’s third goal in the 3-1 Scottish Cup Final victory over Dunfermline at Hampden to seal the double.
The Hoops brought in Iheanacho following his release from Sevilla in September and the former Manchester City and Leicester City forward netted the stoppage-time penalty-kick winner on his debut against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park a few days later.
That was just one of several crucial strikes from the experienced attack-leader and he brought down the curtain on an extraordinary campaign when he netted the final goal in the 3-1 triumph over Dunfermline in the Scottish Cup showpiece on May 23.
It looked to be only a matter of time before Iheanacho signed on again, but O’Neill’s men have now lost out to a team operating outside the Turkish top flight.
Colombian frontman Camilo Duran has arrived in a £5.5million switch from Qarabag, but O’Neill now faces a massive headache if Daizen Maeda leaves this summer, as looks likely.
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