Leicester send £30m flop Islam Slimani on loan to Monaco for the season
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ISLAM SLIMANI is set for his third loan spell in the space of 18 months after joining Ligue 1's bottom side Monaco.
Slimani arrived at Leicester in 2016 as a £30million deadline-day signing that broke the then-Premier League champions' transfer record.
He made an immediate impact, scoring twice on his Premier League debut against Burnley, but his career in England has gone sharply downhill since.
The 31-year-old scored just six more league goals in his next 34 appearances and was loaned out to Newcastle and Fenerbahce before his latest switch to Monaco.
The striker was far from prolific, scoring just once in the league last season, but was part of the Algeria side that won the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt over the summer.
However, Slimani was frozen out of Brendan Rodgers' 25-man squad for the Premier League season and was expected to leave the club before the European transfer window shuts on September 2.
Rodgers said last week: "I think it's a very difficult ask here for any striker to come in, especially an experienced striker.
"It’s one between now and the end of the window, Islam will look at his options and what is out there for him.
"He has come back in and he is looking to work hard and is focused on getting himself fit because obviously he has been away for a number of weeks as well with the Africa [Cup of] Nations, and then we will see how it looks come the end of this month."
Slimani is seen as a direct replacement for Radamel Falcao, who is expected to leave for a lucrative deal at Galatasaray, but will have a difficult task on his hands if he is to resurrect Monaco's form.
The Ligue 1 strugglers finished 17th in the table last season, avoiding relegation by just two points, and are rock-bottom already this time around after consecutive 3-0 defeats to open their campaign.
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Their latest signing could make his debut this weekend when Monaco host Nimes on Sunday afternoon.
Oleg Petrov, Monaco's vice-president, said: "He is a powerful striker and scorer who has demonstrated his qualities in the Portuguese and English championships in particular, but also in international competitions.
"Islam will strengthen our offensive potential and will also put its experience to benefit the group and the youngest."