The Leicester City striker has been linked with a loan move to Newcastle United.
Newcastle United have lacked attacking firepower this season beyond the exploits of Dwight Gayle and it seems likely that manager Rafael Benitez will attempt to bring in at least one new striker in the January transfer window.
Algerian outlet Competition indicate that Newcastle have made an approach to take Islam Slimani on loan for the rest of the season, with the striker having been on the periphery of proceedings for Leicester City.
Although it is clear that Newcastle need a new option up front, there is little evidence to suggest that Slimani will be the solution to their woes.
The Algeria international has scored just 12 goals in 41 appearances for Leicester and what Newcastle require right now is a player who has proven himself in the Premier League.
Slimani scored seven times in the top flight last season, but then Aleksandar Mitrovic found the net on nine occasions in the 2015/16 campaign and the latter hasn’t been able to get into the Newcastle side.
There is another parallel to be drawn between Slimani and Mitrovic. Slimani scored regularly in Portugal for Sporting Lisbon, while Mitrovic did likewise for Anderlecht in Belgium.
Neither player, however, has demonstrated that they have what it takes to play a major part in Newcastle’s quest to avoid relegation to the Championship.
Slimani, then, shouldn’t be seen as a potential option for Newcastle to consider, and Benitez should turn his thoughts elsewhere as he looks to bolster his attacking resources.
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