![\"Soccer](\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/thumbor\/Kt8yplTACFv2LGVK89e9mpkVPIo=\/750x536\/smart\/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.soccernet.ng%2Fmain%2F2025%2F12%2Fimago1069755657.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Super Eagles and Celtic forward Kelechi Iheanacho. Copyright: ImagoxFredxPalmer<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Former Aston Villa striker Alan McInally has weighed in on the future of Super\u00a0Eagles forward Kelechi Iheanacho at Celtic ahead of the summer transfer window,\u00a0Soccernet.ng<\/u><\/a>\u00a0reports.<\/strong><\/p>\n The Nigerian striker\u2019s future at the Scottish champions remains uncertain heading into the summer, with doubts over whether he will still be at the club beyond this\u00a0summer.<\/p>\n Iheanacho joined Celtic from Sevilla last summer on a free transfer, signing an initial one-year deal, with the club holding an option to extend it by another year. However, he will officially become a free agent on July 1 when his current contract expires,\u00a0if no extension is agreed until then.<\/p>\n Despite scoring six goals in the final stretch of the season and helping Celtic secure the Scottish Premier League title as well as the Scottish Cup to complete a domestic double, the club is yet to make a final decision on his future.<\/p>\n Celtic have already confirmed the permanent appointment of head coach Martin O\u2019Neill after an impressive campaign\u00a0and they now face\u00a0key decisions regarding several players ahead of the new season, with Iheanacho\u2019s situation one of the issues to be resolved.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Scottish\u00a0champions are expected to strengthen\u00a0their squad\u00a0in the transfer window,\u00a0as they aim to retain their league crown next season after a remarkable challenge the last time out which went down to the final day.<\/p>\n Speaking in an interview with the Daily Record<\/strong>, former\u00a0Scotland\u00a0and Celtic striker\u00a0Alan McInally\u00a0expressed admiration for Iheanacho\u2019s quality and has backed his former side to extend the Nigerian forward\u2019s stay, although he stressed the need for the striker to prove his fitness.<\/p>\n McInally noted that\u00a0the 29-year-old\u2019s\u00a0injury and fitness issues have been a concern, but believes a full pre-season could help him reach peak condition and avoid similar problems next season.<\/p>\n \u201cI would keep him. If he can perform the way he did in the last six games over the course of the season then he\u2019s obviously worth keeping\u201d,\u00a0the ex-Aston Villa forward said, via The Herald.<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u201cThat\u2019s the big question though. It\u2019s about keeping him fit. I don\u2019t know if he\u2019s enjoying Glasgow too much\u00a0\u2013\u00a0maybe Martin should put a tag on him!<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u201cJoking aside, it would be interesting to see how he responds to a full pre-season. He clearly enjoys playing for Celtic. You can see that. And why wouldn\u2019t he, playing in front of 60,000 every other week and competing for trophies?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u201cIt\u2019s up to him to have the discipline and the attitude to play week in, week out.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n McInally also admitted that Celtic must avoid losing a player of Iheanacho\u2019s quality, especially given the form he showed towards the end of last season.<\/p>\n \u201cYou could see how Martin managed to get the best out of Iheanacho in the last part of the season so he could do so again\u201d, the former Scotland forward added.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u201cThe thing is, if he does go, he would need to be replaced. You look at his quality and his ability in front of goal, that doesn\u2019t come easily.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u201cSome players need a kick, and others need a hug, although most want a hug these days, but if Martin feels he can get him going again then he\u2019s definitely worth keeping.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n Iheanacho\u00a0continues to wait\u00a0for clarity over his future at Celtic, with a final decision expected in the coming weeks to end the ongoing uncertainty.<\/p>\n In the meantime, the striker will\u00a0focus on regaining\u00a0full fitness and force his way back into Nigeria\u2019s squad under Eric Chelle. He has not featured for the Super Eagles since the 2025 Unity Cup victory and will be hoping to be in contention for the\u00a02027 AFCON qualifiers, which\u00a0will kickoff\u00a0in September.<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n![\"Soccer](\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/thumbor\/6KA38QQWv4gpHHf3GLtREts0ylw=\/3533x2355\/smart\/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.soccernet.ng%2Fmain%2F2026%2F05%2Fimago1077535770.jpg\")
Soccer McInally backs Celtic to extend Iheanacho\u2019s contract<\/h2>\n
![\"Soccer](\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/thumbor\/H_9E21F3DlO_TNHxmfeCFAseeqo=\/3892x3061\/smart\/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.soccernet.ng%2Fmain%2F2026%2F05%2Fimago1077783256.jpg\")
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
![\"Soccer](\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/thumbor\/LB99akh-cyPRtAZ_4eyKCKiyaF4=\/1024x705\/smart\/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.soccernet.ng%2Fmain%2F2025%2F10%2Fimago1067378735-2.jpg\")
Ayomide Oguntimehin” src=”https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/thumbor\/ycGEJDr9VZlpO_5zujn3ZdvICxA=\/150×150\/smart\/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.soccernet.ng%2Fmain%2F2024%2F12%2FAyomide-Oguntimehin-pics.jpg” height=”80″ width=”80″>\t\t<\/p>\n