Newcastle pass on Islam Slimani deal with Leicester City striker set for Sporting Lisbon return
Rafa Benitez refuses to meet the £25million asking price for the Foxes frontman following his injury-blighted spell in the North East
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NEWCASTLE UNITED have passed on the opportunity to sign Leicester City striker Islam Slimani, who is close to returning to his former club Sporting Lisbon.
Reports in Portugal say the £30million Foxes flop is ready to return to the Estadio Jose Alavalade, despite ending last season on loan with the Magpies.
Leicester would rather sell the 29-year-old but neither Sporting or Rafa Benitez’s Toon are able to meet their £25million asking price.
Now they are set to cut their losses by loaning Slimani back to the Lisbon club - which is suffering financially after failing to qualify for the Champions League.
claim Sporting president Sousa Cintra is close to agreeing a one-year-loan deal with an option to buy while Jornal de Notícias report that a deal is 'practically set.'
Slimani’s willingness to take a £625,000-a-year pay-cut has been crucial, as he attempts to kick-start his career at the club where he made his name.
Slimani made just two Premier League starts for Leicester last season, before being sent out on loan to Newcastle in January.
But a thigh injury restricted him to just four appearances on Tyneside.
Although he was keen to stay with the Magpies, Benitez was not persuaded by what he saw last season.
Fenerbache and Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Hilal have also been linked with Slimani but it appears Sporting are now in pole position to land the unhappy hitman.
