Bursaspor president Enes Çelik has opened the door to selling Kelechi Iheanacho for an exceptional offer, just months after signing him for nothing following his Celtic departure.

The Nigerian’s remarkable start in Turkey has prompted reports of interest from Fenerbahçe, with Bursaspor now discussing the circumstances in which they would consider cashing in.

Speaking to Gol TV in an interview reported by Bursa Hayat, Çelik stressed that he wants Iheanacho to stay.

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However, he acknowledged that an extraordinary offer would have to be assessed by the board, with the club’s interests guiding any decision. He did not name a price or confirm that a bid had arrived.

The striker has registered 16 goals and three assists in 13 league appearances. His scoring streak ended in Saturday’s 3-0 win over Bandırmaspor, having found the net in each of his previous 12 league games – a run reported in Turkey as a national record.

Those are outstanding numbers, even allowing for the fact he is playing in Turkey’s second tier.

They also make uncomfortable reading from a Celtic perspective.

Celtic held an option to extend Iheanacho’s contract, but allowed it to expire before attempting to negotiate a fresh agreement. Martin O’Neill wanted him back, yet those subsequent discussions failed to produce a deal.

Iheanacho recently discussed the talks that led him to Bursaspor, explaining how the Turkish club’s proposal convinced him to make the move.

Celtic had spent much of the previous season managing a player whose involvement was disrupted by injury. He still produced important contributions, but supporters never saw a sustained run of him fully fit and starting regularly.

Now another club is enjoying the goals and could eventually collect a transfer fee as well.

That does not mean every goal in the Turkish second division would have been replicated at Celtic. The standard and circumstances should be taken into account, and his current form cannot answer every question about how another season in Glasgow would have unfolded.

But Celtic knew the player and had a contractual route to retain him. Letting that option lapse left them competing for his signature again, and Bursaspor took advantage.