Newcastle United agree loan deal with Leicester City for Islam Slimani

Newcastle United have agreed a deal with Leicester City (subject to a medical) to sign Islam Slimani on loan until the end of the season.

The Foxes will receive a fee of around £2 million for the Algerian striker, which, to be fair, represents some good bit of business when you consider what Slimani had been reduced to during his time at the King Power Stadium.

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 was mostly misery – for Leicester City and the man himself, too.

Although Slimani didn’t do too badly this season (five goals in six starts), Puel was always reluctant to give him a place in the starting XI, particularly in the Premier League.

The Frenchman went so far as to publicly leave the door open for Islam Slimani, which led to an official approach from Besiktas, while Chelsea and AS Monaco were both understood to have been interested in his services as well.

Like Leonardo Ulloa and Ahmed Musa, who have both returned to their former clubs Brighton and Hove Albion and CSKA Moscow respectively, what happens when Islam Slimani returns back from St. James’ Park is unclear and uncertain.

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A lot will largely depend on how he fares for Rafael Benitez’s side, who would look up to him to save them from relegation.