Arsenal are eyeing up a move for Sporting Lisbon striker Islam Slimani after missing out on Leicester’s Jamie Vardy.
On Thursday, Leicester announced that Vardy has signed a new 4-year deal at the King Power Stadium, an incredible U-turn after it was thought the England striker could be moving to the Emirates for a £20million fee.
Slimani is now being eyed by the north London outfit after the 28-year-old scored 31 goals in 44 appearances for Sporting Lisbon last season. Slimani, who is also on Tottenham’s radar this summer, has a £24m release clause in his contract at Sporting.
Leicester will be happy they aren’t having to replace Vardy, as they were looking into options such as Watford’s Troy Deeney and even Slimani himself before their current number 9 finally agreed a deal.
Slimani is under contract in Portugal until 2020, but is understood to prefer a move to the Emirates.
By Ben Kelly – @benkelly_10