Leicester City player Islam Slimani has missed out on a return to Sporting Lisbon despite offering to cut his £100,000-a-week wages in half, according to Record.
While the Portuguese transfer window remains open until Tuesday night, the chances of the experienced Algeria international making an emotional homecoming at the Estadio Jose Alvalade look more slim than ever before.
Slimani has not made an appearance in Leicester blue since the 2017/18 season.
Despite scoring goals for fun during a superb loan spell at Monaco last season, the Foxes have been unable to find a buyer for a man who became their £29 million record signing during the final few months of the Claudio Ranieri regime.
Record claimed that Slimani was so determined to swap Leicester for Lisbon that he was willing to accept a 50 per cent wage cut.
But Sporting have turned down the chance to be reunited with one of their favourite sons, regardless of the fact the veteran centre-forward was willing to reduce his wages from £100,000-a-week to £50,000-a-week.
The report suggests that a man who scored 31 goals for the club in 2015/16 was still too expensive for Sporting’s liking.
Furthermore, the old-school target man does not exactly suit the fast-paced, technical style of football coach Ruben Amorim is trying to perfect in the Portuguese capital.
Slimani’s contract is due to expire in 2021 and Leicester would be happy to terminate his deal in order to get that massive pay packet off the wage bill.
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