Defending Premier League champions Leicester City are believed to be close to completing the signing of Algerian international Islam Slimani.
Leicester’s interest in the Sporting Lisbon forward has been reported by the BBC among others, with the broadcaster reporting that talks between the club and Sporting Lisbon were taking place, in what is thought to be a £30 million deal.
Leonardo Ulloa was the only Leicester player other than Jamie Vardy and PFA Players’ Player of the Year, Riyad Mahrez, to score more than five Premier League goals last season, and with the departure of Andrej Kramaric to Hoffenheim, Foxes boss Claudio Ranieri is looking for an additional goal threat to strengthen his squad.
City are keen to bolster their attacking prowess as they bid to defend their Premier League crown as well as compete in the Champions League this season, having been drawn in Group G where they will face Porto, Belgian champions Club Brugge and Copenhagen.
There we have it, confirmation of #lcfc's first ever@ChampionsLeague group. What do you think? #UCLdraw
Slimani would certainly would improve the Foxes’ attacking options if brought in in time. He has won 43 international caps, scored 23 goals and provided eight assists, making him Algeria’s fifth highest all-time goalscorer. Additionally, the attacker has scored 57 goals in 109 appearances for Sporting.
Last season was the Algerian’s most prolific in front of goal, as Slimani scored 27 league goals in 33 league appearances and helped Sporting finish second, a narrow two points off Primeira Liga Champions Benfica.
Sporting’s transfer activity, meanwhile, provides supporting evidence that Slimani looks likely to depart the Estádio José Alvalade, with the club having raided the Bundesliga twice in as many days, signing Bas Dost from Wolfsburg for an undisclosed fee on Sunday and confirming the signing of Luc Castaignos from Eintracht Frankfurt via Twitter less than 24 hours later.
Say hello to Luc Castaignos, our latest addition to the squad!twitter.com/Sporting_CP/st…
With Sporting having already signed two new forwards in as many days, there is a high chance that Slimani will be a Premier League player before Wednesday’s transfer deadline.
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