Manager O'Neill Confirms Intent to Secure Iheanacho's Celtic Future

Martin O'Neill, the gaffer at Celtic, has publicly stated his desire to secure the services of Super Eagles forward Kelechi Iheanacho on a more permanent basis, impressed by his initial stint with the club.

Iheanacho initially joined the Scottish giants last September on a one-year contract, which included an option for the club to extend his stay by an additional 12 months. During the 2025-2026 season, the Nigerian international proved instrumental in Celtic's thrilling Scottish Premiership triumph, which was sealed on the final day with a dramatic victory against Hearts.

His contributions extended to the Scottish Cup final, where he found the back of the net in their commanding 3-1 win over Dunfermline Athletic. In the league, he registered five goals from just 13 appearances, remarkably starting only four of those matches. With a total tally of nine goals across all competitions, O'Neill is optimistic about concluding negotiations for a new agreement with Iheanacho in the near future.

Quoting the manager directly, O'Neill stated, "I'd like to do something with him." He emphasized the importance of a swift resolution for the player's preparation, adding, "If we can do something relatively quickly, at least he then gets started in pre-season, which is really important for him." O'Neill highlighted past challenges, noting, "It's something he didn't have last year. After about three minutes, he was injured against Sturm Graz, and he then hurt himself in the [Scottish] League Cup final as well." He concluded his remarks by expressing his strong desire: "I would like to have him. It would be nice. I'm definitely pursuing that at this minute."

In related news, O'Neill also confirmed that efforts are underway to re-sign Marcelo Saracchi, a player who made a significant impression during his loan period from Boca Juniors.