Former Celtic star Alan McInally has weighed in on Kelechi Iheanacho's future amid question marks over the striker's future at the club.
Iheanacho joined the Bhoys on a free contract from Sevilla and went on to score nine goals in 24 appearances across all competitions. The 29-year-old was only signed on a deal until the end of the season, but Celtic have an option to extend the deal by a further year.
They are unlikely to do that unless the striker wants to stay, but that will be a conversation for Martin O'Neill to have once he is officially appointed as the permanent manager in the coming days.
Iheanacho could be worth keeping
According to former Celtic star McInally, Iheanacho may well be worth keeping if O'Neill can get him fully bought in.
“I would keep him. If he can perform the way he did in the last six games over the course of the season then he’s obviously worth keeping," he told the Daily Record.
“That’s the big question though. It’s about keeping him fit. I don’t know if he’s enjoying Glasgow too much – maybe Martin should put a tag on him!
“Joking 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’t he, playing in front of 60,000 every other week and competing for trophies? It’s up to him to have the discipline and the attitude to play week in, week out.”
O'Neill on new Iheanacho contract possibility
O'Neill addressed Iheanacho's future back in May, when he was asked about whether Celtic should extend the striker's deal by another year.
“That’s for another day," he said. "I think that the fitness element is the most important thing, and I think you have to go and prove that you’re fit, and the only way to prove it is on the field of play.
“What he has done for us has been terrific, really terrific, particularly now. You’re looking at his overall contribution through injuries and stuff like this here, for a whole season, those are the things that I’m sure the football club would weigh up on as much as anything else.
“Although he keeps telling me he’s very, very young, time does catch up with players, although I think he’s only 29 or 30. If the club were to keep him, then it’s really to do with a proper pre-season for him. A real proper pre-season."
A gamble worth making?
Iheanacho would effectively be free to keep for Celtic, albeit he will be on a decent wage. While there are things to work on, including fitness, to go out and buy a striker to replace Iheanacho would undoubtedly involve a significant fee.
He is an experienced player who has a proven ability to pitch in with goals, and he can play a role next season, especially with a full pre-season under his belt, and a full pre-season with O'Neill no less.
Man-management is O'Neill's biggest strength, and so there is no better man to oversee the striker at Parkhead, and given there is no fee required to keep a striker with genuine technical ability, it would be wise for Celtic to make the gamble, and that's if you can call it a gamble, given it would cost very little - perhaps even nothing at all - to cut ties if things don't go to plan next season.
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