Rafael Benitez to discuss Islam Slimani’s Newcastle United future next week

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Newcastle United striker Islam Slimani may have already played his last game for the club.

Rafael Benitez has told the Chronicle that he has discussed Islam Slimani’s future at Newcastle United with the striker, and he has requested to stay.

Slimani has been banned for the rest of the campaign, meaning he has already played his last match for Newcastle.

However, the Algerian is keen to see out the rest of his loan spell from Leicester City.

And Benitez is planning further talks with the target-man in the near future.

The Spanish boss said: “I was talking with him. He was keen to stay & train, so we are happy with that given that we have two games. We will talk again next week.”

Slimani did not have the impact at Newcastle that many were hoping for, due to injury, and he made just one start for the Magpies.

The 29-year-old did prove effective off the bench, but he barely had a chance to show the St. James’ Park crowd what he could do.

In Slimani’s absence, Ayoze Perez and Dwight Gayle are likely to continue up-front for Newcastle.

The Magpies are next in action at the weekend, when they take on Watford at Vicarage Road.