KELECHI IHEANACHO has been targeted by Turkish Super Lig side Bursaspor.
The club have made “close contact” with the striker over a potential move, according to a report in soccernet.
Iheanacho became a cult hero with the Celtic fans after scoring vitally-important goals throughout the season following his arrival as a free agent in September after being released by Sevilla.
The Hoops had an option to make the move permanent at the end of the term, but the deadline passed without any business being concluded and that is likely to see the popular 29-year-old Nigerian international hitman move elsewhere this summer.
THE FINAL SAY…Kelechi Iheanacho nets the goal that sealed the 3-1 Scottish Cup victory over Dunfermline at Hampden and brought down the curtain on Celtic’s double-winning campaign.
Bursaspor president Enes Çelik revealed Iheanacho is among the names being considered as the club look for a new frontman.
He admitted: “We won’t rush. We said let’s think about it a little more.
“We want to meticulously find the most suitable one among the available options. The only thing left is the striker position.
“We will hand over the team to our coach when we go to the Bolu training camp, except for one striker.”
Iheanacho netted nine goals in just four first-team starts in 16 appearances – and his fitness levels have clearly been a concern for the Parkhead powerbrokers as they pondered about extending his contract.
The former Manchester City and Leicester City forward claimed the matchwinner on his Hoops debut when the thumped in a stoppage-time penalty-kick in a 2-1 success over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on September 14.
The Nigerian hitman repeated the feat with his nonchalant spot-kick, once again deep in added-on time, in the dramatic 3-2 midweek victory over Motherwell at Fir Park on May 13.
THE CUP THAT CHEERS…Kelechi Iheanacho celebrates with the silverware after Celtic’s 3-1 victory over Dunfermline at Hampden on May 23.
In between, there have been points-clinchers against Dundee at Dens Park, 2-1 on April 5, and Hibs at Easter Road, 2-1 ten days earlier.
Iheanacho was also on target with the opening goal in the 3-2 triumph over Jens Berthel Askou’s Well on October 5, ironically his solitary strike at Parkhead.
He netted in the 1-1 Europa League draw against Red Star in Belgrade on September 24 and chipped in with an extra-time double in the landslide 6-2 Scottish Cup semi-final success over St Mirren.
And Iheanacho capped a memorable double-winning campaign when he waltzed through the Dunfermline defence before slotting in the third goal in the 3-1 Scottish Cup Final triumph at Hampden on May 23.
Despite having to contend with a persistent hamstring problem, the frontman’s timing at the champions has been just about perfect.
However, it looks as though this particular football fairytale is about to come to a halt.
