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Islam Slimani held talks with Marco Silva about a move to Watford

By Harneet Singh Sethi

LEICESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 19: Islam Slimani of Leicester City celebrates scoring his sides second goal with his temmates during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Leicester City and Liverpool at The King Power Stadium on September 19, 2017 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
LEICESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 19: Islam Slimani of Leicester City celebrates scoring his sides second goal with his temmates during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Leicester City and Liverpool at The King Power Stadium on September 19, 2017 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images) /
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Leicester City’s out of favour striker Islam Slimani held talks with Marco Silva about a move to Watford, the Algerian has revealed.

Signed for a club-record £28 million in the summer of 2016, Slimani has so far failed to make the kind of impact that you’d expect from a record signing.

The 29-year old has made 36 appearances for Leicester City so far, scoring 11 goals and assisting five. The former Sporting CP striker hasn’t seen any change in this season’s fortunes either, netting just three goals, all of which have come in the Carabao Cup. In five appearances in the Premier League, he is yet to score or assist.

Things, however, weren’t always the same for Islam Slimani, who used to be a prolific striker back in his Sporting days (he scored 57 goals in 111 appearances at the Estadio Jose Alvalade).

LISBON, PORTUGAL – AUGUST 18: Sporting’s forward Islam Slimani celebrates scoring a goal during the UEFA Champions League qualifying round play-off first leg match between Sporting CP and CSKA Moscow at Estadio Jose Alvalade on August 18, 2015 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images)
LISBON, PORTUGAL – AUGUST 18: Sporting’s forward Islam Slimani celebrates scoring a goal during the UEFA Champions League qualifying round play-off first leg match between Sporting CP and CSKA Moscow at Estadio Jose Alvalade on August 18, 2015 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images) /

The Algeria international had a considerably good season with current Watford boss Marco Silva, as he found the back of the net 15 times under the Portuguese during his only campaign in charge.

Therefore, to reunite with his former boss was a prospect that was always going to appeal to him. Speaking to Algerian newspaper Le Buteur, he told:

"“I had a conversation with Marco Silva, who was my coach at Sporting, and he was very interested in having me on the team.“He presented me with a magnificent project, but unfortunately it did not materialise. The leaders of Leicester City told me they wanted me here.“But they are things of the past, now I am focused on my team.”"

If Leicester City’s summer is anything to go by, then they obviously are stubborn negotiators who refuse to sell their players if the conditions aren’t satisfied.

Islam Slimani isn’t the only Leicester City player to have failed to make a move go through under such circumstances, with Riyad Mahrez and Demarai Gray ending up disappointing themselves too.

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