• Sporting Lisbon say that Silva is not for sale • Premier League champions also pushing to sign Algeria striker

The Portugal midfielder Adrien Silva has indicated he is close to joining Leicester City from Sporting Lisbon, although his club have insisted he is not for sale.

With Claudio Ranieri pushing to sign another Sporting player, the striker Islam Slimani, the Premier League champions could end up paying around £50m for the pair.

Leicester in talks with Sporting Lisbon over £30m Islam Slimani deal Read more

Silva, who started every match for Portugal in their triumphant Euro 2016 campaign from the round of 16 onwards, is valued at around £21m. He discussed Leicester’s interest in an interview with the Portuguese newspaper O Jogo.

“Yes, I confirm this proposal,” he said. “Leicester is very interesting and corresponds to my career goals.

“After the past 15 years at Sporting, this opportunity is something exceptional for me and can allow me to express and impose myself in another championship, and also to evolve in the Premier League, which is a stunning league. I love Sporting as a family and I dedicated myself to the club since I was 12 years old.

“With Sporting I lived many moments of happiness. I can say that I grew up with the club. At 27 years old, and after so many years of loyalty, I think that no one will criticise me for wanting to embrace this challenge.”

However, Sporting have responded with a statement on their official website, saying they expect Silva to honour the new contract he signed this year and finish his career at the club.

“The player renewed his contract in February 2016 in a deal involving significant sums of money, making it absolutely clear that the extension to his contract would mean that Adrien Silva would say at the club until the end of his career,” the statement read.

“Never during recent months has anything been said to the president or has any proposal been made for the transfer of Adrien Silva and the president has not met with the player’s father or representatives for that purpose.

“Sporting CP and its president will always defend the interests of the club and will also defend the club’s assets.”

Silva, who had loan spells with the Israeli club Maccabi Haifa and the Portuguese side Académica early in his career, has 13 caps.

Slimani would cost around £30m. The Algerian was the subject of a failed £25m offer from Leicester, who are hopeful of finalising a deal for the 28-year-old. Sporting have also turned down a bid from West Bromwich Albion. Slimani scored 27 league goals last season and would become Leicester’s record signing if he links up there with his international colleague Riyad Mahrez.

Ranieri wants to add Slimani to forward options which include Ahmed Musa, a £16m summer signing from CSKA Moscow, Jamie Vardy and Shinji Okazaki. Leonardo Ulloa appears to be the striker most likely to leave if Slimani joins.