Why it’s time for Leicester to part ways with flop star Islam Slimani
According to L’Equipe (h/t ESPN), St. Etienne are believed to be in the hunt for a new striker and they have narrowed their search down to Islam Slimani of Leicester City. The forward has been out of favour at the club for a while now as he struggles to get regular game time.
Profile
Islam Slimani started his professional career with JSM Cheraga and CR Belouizdad in his native Algeria before completing a move to Europe with Portuguese heavyweights Sporting Lisbon.
An astonishing tally of 57 goals in 109 appearances for Sporting paved the way for a move to Leicester City, who paid a then club-record fee of £30million to sign the towering center-forward back in the summer of 2016.
Islam Slimani (Getty Images)
Slimani, though, failed to deliver the goods in English football and managed a modest return of 13 goals in 47 games for the Foxes before being shipped out on loan to Newcastle United, Fenerbahce and Monaco.
The Algerian somewhat redeemed himself during his last loan spell at Monaco, where he accumulated 9 goals and 7 assists in 18 Ligue 1 appearances during the prematurely-terminated 2019-20 campaign. The Algerian is a veteran for his national side with 30 goals in 69 appearances.
Leicester should look sell Slimani
For a player who has played just one game for the club in the last two seasons, which came this season, it is clear that the player has fallen down the pecking order in a ridiculous way. However, Slimani never looked a good fit at Leicester since arriving. He had a decent first season but since then, the forward has struggled to get regular game time.
While it is understandable that it is hard to displace a prolific striker like Jamie Vardy, a bit more was expected from the former Sporting man. It is also not the case that Leicester have numerous strikers at their disposal, yet, Slimani remains on the fringes of the squad. That somewhat tells you that his time at the club is over.
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It would seem risky for Leicester to let go of a striker given they have just the three of them on their books currently. However, selling Slimani would be the best for both the player and the club.
Slimani has done well away from Leicester and it feels like he needs a fresh start away from the King Power Stadium. The club would also be able to clear out some deadwood.
