West Ham United reportedly missed out on Islam Slimani on transfer deadline.
According to The Guardian, Leicester City refused to let striker Islam Slimani join West Ham United due to previous comments made by vice-chairman Karren Brady.
The Foxes may have splashed a huge fee to sign Slimani from Portuguese side Sporting in the summer of 2016, but have barely used the Algerian, handing him just two Premier League starts this season.
On deadline day, Slimani got his move away from the King Power Stadium, joining Newcastle on loan until the end of the season to boost Rafael Benitez’s attacking options, and may hope to use his time on Tyneside to be the springboard for a permanent move.
Now, The Guardian report that Newcastle had to beat a Premier League rival to land Slimani’s signature, as Leicester refused to send the striker to West Ham United.
It’s claimed that West Ham wanted to snap up Slimani on deadline day, but Leicester downright refused to do business with the Hammers over comments made by Hammers vice-chairman Karren Brady.
Brady criticised Leicester owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha after the sacking of Claudio Ranieri in 2017, and despite numerous attempts from West Ham to apologise, it’s stated that the Foxes simply refused to let Slimani make a move ot the London Stadium.
Slimani got his move to Newcastle, and West Ham did land a striker in Jordan Hugill, but relations between West Ham and Leicester appear to be frayed, if reports are to be believed.
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