RECORD SIGNING: Newcastle United to break the bank for Islam Slimani
Newcastle United are set to break the bank to sign Islam Slimani from Leicester City, according to the Mirror.
The Magpies are reportedly willing to pay £20 million for the Algerian striker, a sum that both the clubs are comfortable with, even if it means that Leicester City could potentially take a loss of upto £8 million.
Shall Newcastle United sign the 29-year old, it’d see them break a long standing club transfer record, with their most expensive signing being Michael Owen, who they paid £15 million for in 2005.
Truth be told, Claude Puel would jump at the chance to sell Islam Slimani for that much money, given how bad and reputation-shattering has the former Sporting CP striker’s Leicester City career been.
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Signed by Claudio Ranieri for a record £29 million in what was a sheer display of the Foxes’ new found wealth and power, Islam Slimani arrived with the fans’ expectations resting nicely on his shoulders; however, the weight soon took a toll on him and the rest has mostly been misery – for Leicester City and the man himself, too.
Although Slimani hasn’t done too badly this season (five goals in six starts), Puel has been reluctant to give him a place in the starting XI, particularly in the Premier League.
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The Frenchman has gone so far as to publicly leave the door open for Islam Slimani, which has so far led to an official approach from Besiktas, while Chelsea and AS Monaco are both interested in his services as well.