Newcastle reportedly made a move to sign Leicester’s Islam Slimani on Monday night.
Sky Sports have claimed on their Transfer Centre (Tuesday, 12:41) that Newcastle United’s January target Islam Slimani will be allowed to leave Leicester City on loan this month – but only to a foreign side.
The report claims Newcastle learned of such a fate on Monday night, as Rafa Benitez’s side made a move for the 29-year-old target man after missing out on Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge who joined West Bromwich Albion instead.
However, they were told that Algeria international Slimani would only be allowed to move to a foreign side as the Foxes look to avoid giving one of their Premier League rivals an advantage.
It sees Newcastle miss out on another striker, after having two bids rejected for Feyenoord striker Nicolai Jorgensen last week. Slimani, who joined Leicester for a huge £29million from Sporting Lisbon, is interesting French giants Monaco.
Benitez is likely to remain in the market up into the final moments of the window as the Toon are in desperate need of a new striker. Dwight Gayle, Aleksander Mitrovic and Joselu have managed just nine goals all season.
But with time running out before Wednesday’s 11pm deadline, it remains to be seen if the Magpies can add to their one January signing in Chelsea’s Kenedy, with a striker, goalkeeper and a winger required.
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