After spending the 2019/20 season at AS Monaco, Islam Slimani and Adrien Silva will return to Leicester City for pre-season.
Both Islam Slimani and Adrien Silva signed for Leicester City from Sporting Lisbon, their careers at King Power Stadium haven’t struck the heights expected. Slimani has spent the previous two seasons and a half out on loan, whilst Silva has played in Monaco for the last 18 months.
With neither in Brendan Rodgers plan, they departed for Monaco to play in Ligue 1. However, after the French division was postponed a month ago, Monaco announced their released list and confirming the end of their tenure at Stade Louis II.
Despite the current City season still going, both players will not be able to play for the club as premiership registration rules restrict them from being called upon.
As Leicester continue their quest of Champions League football, both players could play an important part next season due to their previous experience in Europe. There is a chance for both players to reinvent their career at Leicester and make a name for themselves.
Rodgers certainly will have a decision to make when it comes down to Silva and Slimani. Could they be a vital player next season? Could Slimani be the striker option missing at the club?
Can islam Slimani offer what City lack?
Slimani was brought in on transfer deadline day in 2016, a club-record at the time. The striker scored 7 Premier League goals in his debut season and scored the winner against FC Porto in the Champions League.
However, after failing to break into Craig Shakespeare’s side he moved to Newcastle United on loan for the remainder of the 2017/18 season, where he only appeared four times.
He has spent the last two campaigns abroad with Fenerbache and Monaco, with his last appearance for the Foxes coming in the 2-0 win over Fleetwood Town in a FA Cup third-round replay.
At Monaco, the Algerian international scored nine times in 19 appearances, a contribution that failed to convince Roberto Moreno to make the move permanent.
Is Slimani’s time over at Leicester City?
There is an argument for both cases really. First of all, Slimani hasn’t appeared for the club for Rodgers and with the over-achieving nature of this season, the Foxes manager is likely to stick with his current crop of players.
However, Slimani offers a different dimension of attack for Leicester. In his debut season for the Foxes, the striker scored five headed goals, something the club have missed since Leonardo Ulloa left the club.
With the crossing ability of Marc Albrighton and James Maddison, the option to bring Slimani on and be on the end of crosses could add another avenue of goals for Rodgers.
Could Silva finally get his chance at Leicester?
We all remember the tale of Adrien Silva, right?
The Foxes missed the deadline to complete the transfer of the midfielder by 14 seconds and were made to wait until January until he could make his debut for the club.
He went on to make 12 appearances in the final half of the 2017/18 season before only appearing twice the following. After City loaned Youri Tielemans from Monaco, Silva swapped Leicester for sunny Monaco as part of the day.
Last summer, Tielemans signed permanently for the club and Silva headed out to Monaco again. However, the Portuguese man-made over 40 appearances during his 18 months at the club and will be disappointed that his move hasn’t been made permanent.
But how would the Euro 2016 champion fit into the current Foxes squad?
In the Foxes last game, the 0-0 draw with Brighton, Rodgers opted for Nampalys Mendy and Wilfred Ndidi in the midfield. Whilst both performed rather well, the decision to start two defensive midfielders stalled the attacking promise from the team.
If Silva was going to be handed another chance at King Power Stadium, he could potentially be a good alternative to Tielemans on European nights.
Silva is a similar player to Dennis Praet: both are capable of carrying the ball, scoring goals, sitting in front of the back line and offering a more advanced, adroit option for other players.