'We need a striker' - Five-time Premiership winner urges Celtic to hand Iheanacho new deal

Charlie Mulgrew, a five-time Scottish Premiership winner with Celtic, believes keeping Kelechi Iheanacho at the club should be a priority, insisting the Hoops need to strengthen their attacking options ahead of the new season.

With the Scottish champions set to resume pre-season training, the future of the Nigeria international remains uncertain, with the versatile striker having less than a week remaining on his contract.

However, Celtic hold an option to extend his stay for an additional season, and should they activate it, he will remain a Celtic player for the forthcoming campaign.

Although Iheanacho struggled with injuries, he played a key role as Celtic secured the domestic double, scoring crucial goals towards the end of the season.

Mulgrew feels Celtic must address their need for more attacking options ahead of the new season but believes keeping out-of-contract forward Iheanacho would be a straightforward decision.

He told the Daily Record: "I mean there's no doubt about it, for a few seasons now there's been a striker needed. Daizen Maeda stepped up at the end of the season, but we need a striker.

"Celtic need to bring a striker in, two, maybe three. Because in the actual squad, I don't know if Kelechi Iheanacho has triggered his contract or his extension yet. That'll be something I would be looking to keep and then bring another couple."

With the exception of the League Cup, Iheanacho found the net in every competition he featured in last season, including the Premiership, Scottish FA Cup, Premiership top-six split and the Europa League. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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