Manchester City's offer of a new deal to Kelechi Iheanacho stalled by row between agents

MANCHESTER City's plans to offer Super Eagles playmaker Kelechi Iheanacho a new improved contract has faced a major setback as two agents fighting over the right to represent the player have put the deal on ice for now.

 

Iheanacho, 19, is one of Nigeria's most promising talents and after the 2013 U17 World Cup joined the Maine Road Premiership clubside. Having gradually warmed his way into the Manchester City senior team, the club now plan to offer Iheanacho an improved contract but a bitter dispute between the two agencies, which threatens to spill over into legal action, is delaying things.

 

US-based First Eleven Management, who secured Iheanacho his first deal with the club, have asked the English Football Association arbitration panel to cancel a new management contract, which Iheanacho signed with UK-based Stellar Group. Sources close to the club say the tussle could well boil over to a civil court battle between the two high-profile agents.

 

One source said: “Talks over a new contract for Kelechi have been suspended until the FA arbitration decides on who his agents are. First Eleven, who first managed him have asked for the FA to cancel a new management contract the player has entered with Stellar Group.

 

“It is only after the decision by arbitration that the situation will be a lot clearer. However, even then, this could go all the way to the courtroom the way things are going.”

 

Yesterday, Iheanacho was on the score sheet for Manchester City in the FA Cup, scoring the second goal in the 31st minute in the side's 3-0 victory over Norwich City. He has now scored five goals in all competitions mostly as a substitute for Manuel Pellegrini’s side this season, although yesterday was the second official game he started for the club.