Alan McInally urges Celtic to keep Kelechi Iheanacho beyond summer, praising his impact but stressing consistency and fitness concerns

Former Aston Villa striker Alan McInally has called on Celtic manager Martin O’Neill to retain Nigerian forward Kelechi Iheanacho beyond the current transfer window amid ongoing uncertainty over his future at the club.

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Kelechi Iheanacho, who joined Celtic from Sevilla last summer on a free transfer, is approaching the end of his initial one-year deal, with the club holding an option to extend his stay.

However, the striker is set to become a free agent as speculation continues over whether Celtic will trigger an extension.

Speaking to the *Daily Record*, McInally delivered a firm endorsement of the forward, stating he would keep him at the club based on recent performances.

“I would keep him,” McInally said.

“If he can perform the way he did in the last six games over the course of the season, then he is obviously worth keeping.”

He, however, stressed that consistency and fitness remain key concerns for the Nigerian striker.

“That is the big question, though. It is about keeping him fit,” he added.

McInally also questioned Iheanacho’s adaptation to life in Glasgow while emphasising the importance of discipline and attitude in maintaining form.

“I don’t know if he’s enjoying Glasgow too much – maybe Martin should put a tag on him,” he said.

“It’s up to him to have the discipline and the attitude to play week in, week out.”

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He further noted that different players respond to different motivational approaches but insisted Iheanacho’s recent form makes him a valuable option for Celtic.