West Ham have pulled out of a bid to sign Manchester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho after Slaven Bilic expressed doubts about the striker.

Co-chairman David Sullivan and director of player recruitment Tony Henry had been pursuing the 20‑year-old for more than a month and were ready to meet City’s £25million valuation.

Bilic recognised the striker’s potential but was understood to be less sure about committing a large chunk of West Ham’s summer transfer budget on a player who had a bit-part role at the Etihad last season.

Although the Nigeria international made 29 appearances last season only nine of those were starts.He signed a five-year deal last summer but his playing time was limited by the arrival of Brazil forward Gabriel Jesus in January.

City were also insisting on a buy‑back clause which was another factor against the deal although that had been agreed by Sullivan.

Leicester are now in pole position to sign Iheanacho, which has upset some West Ham fans who thought he would be the club’s marquee signing this summer.

In Pictures | West Ham's away kit for the 2017-18 season 6 show all In Pictures | West Ham's away kit for the 2017-18 season 1/6 Winston Reid West Ham United 2/6 Mark Noble West Ham United 3/6 Manuel Lanzini West Ham United 4/6 Aaron Cresswell West Ham United 5/6 James Collins West Ham United 6/6 West Ham United 1/6 Winston Reid West Ham United 2/6 Mark Noble West Ham United 3/6 Manuel Lanzini West Ham United 4/6 Aaron Cresswell West Ham United 5/6 James Collins West Ham United 6/6 West Ham United

Bilic however, has other, more tried-and-tested potential targets in mind and will hope to complete at least one signing in the near future.

