Leicester are braced for interest from Tottenham for on-loan striker Islam Slimani. The Algeria striker, 31, is at Monaco for the season but Aston Villa were interested in cutting his move short for a return to the Premier League.

Spurs have also looked at the French market as they step up their hunt for a striker to cover for Harry Kane, who is out for three months with a ruptured hamstring.

Jose Mourinho wants a targetman to bolster his attack for the second half of the season without Kane, with his club working through a list of possible targets and gauging availability for a forward with the quality to play in the Premier League and Champions League.

Slimani is on their radar but Leicester may resist strengthening a rival in the top-four race, even if Mourinho’s team are off the pace at the moment.

Brendan Rodgers admitted the Villa interest was “going to be too complicated” to happen. He has attracted interest after scoring seven goals in 11 starts during his spell at Monaco, although Wissam Ben Yedder is first-choice striker at Stade Louis II.