Sporting Lisbon have rejected an offer from Leicester City for their striker Islam Slimani, according to Portuguese outlet SAPO Desporto, while Everton and Tottenham Hotspur are also claimed to be interested.
The 27-year-old striker has been on Leicester’s radar as a potential replacement for Jamie Vardy, who is currently deliberating over his future after Arsenal invoked the release clause in his contact earlier this month.
The Foxes are keen to snap up the Algerian striker, who scored 31 goals in all competitions last season, and it has been claimed that they tabled a €20m bid in recent days.
However, the figure is less than the €30m release clause in Slimani’s contract and Sporting Lisbon have rejected Leicester’s bid, sticking to their stand of not allowing the player to leave for less than his release clause.
Portuguese clubs are known for being hardline when it comes to release clauses and Sporting Lisbon are not behaving against the norm when it comes to Leicester’s move for Slimani.
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Leicester also have competition as it is claimed that Everton and Tottenham are also showing an interest in Slimani.
Sporting Lisbon snapped up the forward from CR Belouizdad in 2013 and have seen him score 56 goals in 109 appearances for the club; he has a contract until 2020 with the Portuguese outfit.
Club manager Jorge Jesus has said in recent weeks that Slimani could outscore Vardy in the Premier League if he gets the chance to work under the right manager in England.
