Fourth time lucky? Islam Slimani’s Leicester City frustrations play into Everton’s hands

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Islam Slimani has grown tired of his lack of game time at Leicester City and Everton should offer their long-standing target an escape route.

Less than a year-and-a-half since Islam Slimani became Leicester City’s £29 million club-record signing (BBC), the striker already appears to be eyeing an escape route from the King Power Stadium.

The Algerian international never quite managed to tie down a place in the starting XI under either Claudio Ranieri or Craig Shakespeare. And new Foxes boss Claude Puel has not handed Slimani even a second of action since taking over at Leicester last month.

And Algerian publication L’Expression is now claiming that the former Sporting Lisbon striker has grown tired with his lack of opportunities in Leicester and will look to leave in the January transfer window.

An old-school targetman, Slimani never appeared to fit into The Foxes’ fast-paced counter attacking style – but there are plenty of Premier League clubs who would surely be willing to offer the 29-year-old a second chance.

Fourth time lucky?

One of them being Everton. The Express reported in July that Everton had turned their attention to Slimani after missing out on Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud.

And this was not the first time Slimani had entered on The Toffees’ radar. The Sun claimed in 2016 that Everton made a bid of £21 million before the frontman signed for Leicester instead. And the Merseysiders were also understood to have been interested after Slimani’s impressive performances for Algeria at the 2014 World Cup.

Slimani would seem a much better fit for an Everton side crying out for a presence in attack – particularly with the likes of Gylfi Sigurdsson and Wayne Rooney likely to get the best out of his 6ft 1ins frame.

Could Everton make it fourth time lucky in January?