Besiktas want Leicester’s Islam Slimani to replace £27m Everton bound Cenk Tosun
Foxes boss Claude Puel admits he may have to sell a forward this month to finance January signings and Turkish club have set their sights on Algerian striker Slimani
LEICESTER striker Islam Slimani is wanted by Besiktas as they look to replace star striker Cenk Tosun.
The Turkish club are looking to bring in a goalscorer as they prepare to sell Tosun to Everton in a £27million deal.
And it is Foxes star Slimani who appears to be top of their wanted list as they hope to find a replacement in quick time.
Tosun is discussing personal terms with Everton and it is expected the move could go through by the start of next week.
Besiktas officials are in England to iron out the finer points, and the claim they could take advantage by trying to hold talks with the Foxes this week.
Leicester manager Claude Puel has admitted he may be forced to sell one of his attacking players this month to finance his own transfer window spending.
And Algerian forward Slimani may well be the one who is on his way out with the 29-year-old attracting the most interest.
There is no chance the club will entertain the prospect of selling England star Jamie Vardy, but Slimani has been short of opportunities and looks the most likely to be let go.
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Puel was asked about cashing in on a forward this week, and he replied: “Perhaps we sell.
“It is important to discuss with the players, all the attacking players, because we have a lot of options.
“We cannot give them all game time they want. It is important to have a better balance in the squad with different players in different positions in the team.
“It is for me there are options. Sometimes with some players, strikers for example, it is difficult to give them all the game time they want.
“Perhaps the possibility to bring in players in who can give us options in different places, we will see. It is important to have the balance in the squad.”
Besiktas will look to move quickly for a new striker, with the club knowing they need to replace Tosun in time for their Champions League last-16 clash with Bayern Munich.