Report: Watford confident of beating Newcastle to the signing of Leicester’s Islam Slimani in January

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Watford are confident of signing Leicester City’s Islam Slimani, who is also wanted by Newcastle United.

According to reports from the Mirror, Watford boss Marco Silva is confident of signing Islam Slimani from Leicester City in the January transfer window.

The report says that Silva is in the hunt for Slimani, who joined Leicester City in 2016 from Sporting Lisbon. Silva has previously worked with the £30 million striker at Lisbon and wants him at Watford as he seeks to solve his side’s goal scoring problems.

However, Watford are not alone in the race to sign Slimani. According to the Mirror, Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez is also keen on the striker, who wants out of the King Power Stadium.

The 29-year-old scored only eight goals last season in all competitions, and this season has played only 241 minutes of Premier League football, managing to add just one goal to his name.

He scored his first Premier League goal of the season on Monday against Huddersfield, but that may not change his position as the Foxes are reportedly looking to cash in on him.

It is highly unlikely that the Magpies will be paying that amount, so Watford have a good chance here of signing him.

Silva has the likes of Andre Gray, Troy Deeney, and Jerome Sinclair in his forward ranks, but he still feels further investment is required to bolster that department.