Leicester City coach, Claude Puel, has sent a stern warning to suitors of Super Eagles striker, Kelechi Iheanacho.
Iheanacho joined the Foxes in the summer but has made just two Premier League starts and had been linked with departure to Southampton.
Yet, the Frenchman is not prepared to write off the former Manchester City forward, who has scored just once for the club this term.
Nigeria boss, Gernot Rohr, said earlier this week he expected Iheanacho and international team-mate, Ahmed Musa, to leave the King Power Stadium because of their lack of action but Puel dismissed any exit talk.
Puel said: “We don’t know what the national trainer said. We will see. We have discussions with different players. For example Iheanacho is a young player, arrived this season, and he will stay with us.
“I cannot talk about details about players. It is important to have a good balance in the team and have a good game time for the players.
‘Iheanacho is a young player, he signed this season with us and we have to develop him. I hope he can have more game time in the second half of the season.’
It seems as though Algeria forward, Islam Slimani, could make way instead of the 21-year-old.
“I can’t give all the details of individual players to you,” Puel said. “Yes, for Iheanacho there has been a lot of speculation. He is a young player who arrives in a good team where there is competition and he needs to keep working and improve.”
Leicester goes to Chelsea on Saturday in the Premier League with Jamie Vardy fit after a groin injury.
