Newcastle United have made an enquiry to sign Leicester City striker Islam Slimani according to the Daily Mail, with us emerging as big favourites with to bookies to sign the Algerian forward on loan in next month’s transfer window.
The Mail state that Watford, West Brom and Stoke are also monitoring his situation, but Newcastle have become firm favourites to sign the 29-year-old striker this winter.
Odds for Slimani’s move to NUFC have become short as the 6/4, whilst Ladbrokes have Watford as second favourites for his January signature at 5/2, with West Brom at 7/2 and Stoke at 4/1.
Algerian media have also jumped on this, with Le Buteur confirming today that NUFC have submitted an ‘official loan offer’:
‘Two clubs in the Premier League have already made official offers for their Leicester counterpart. These are Watford and Newcastle. Two very serious tracks where could therefore land the Algerian striker.’
Despite arriving on the back of a 31-goal season with Sporting Lisbon, Slimani has struggled to nail down a place in Leicester’s side, with Jamie Vardy, Shinji Okazaki and the £25m summer arrival Kelechi Iheanacho standing in his way.
The 6ft 2′ target man has scored 4 goals for the Foxes in three Carabo Cup appearances this season, however new boss Claude Puel has left him out of his last FOUR matchday squads altogether, and he looks set to demand a move for first-team football next month.
Given he signed for Leicester for the best part of £30m last summer, it’s unlikely he’ll leave permanently cheap, but a loan deal sounds like one Benitez could be ready to take advantage of.
This one could make a lot of sense – especially given Benitez’s preference for a big man up top and our need for a new striker with limited funds.
He’s a good player this one Olly…
BillytheFish(Quote)