Transfer Rumours

Newcastle £15m bid for Islam Slimani rejected – Reports

The craziness of transfer deadline day continues, while speculation is ongoing about a possible Berahino transfer, it is reported in France that Newcastle have had a 20m euros (approx £15.2m) bid for Islam Slimani knocked back.

France Football claim that Sporting Lisbon have rejected the 20m euros bid for the Algerian striker, despite it improving on a reported Everton offer of 18m euros for Islam Slimani.

Newcastle were actually first linked with the striker a year after he arrived at Sporting Lisbon on a free transfer from Belouizdad, who compete in the domestic Algerian league.

He spent much of that first (2013/14) season in Portugal on the bench, scoring eight league goals despite only starting 10 games, plus another 16 as a sub.

In summer 2014 it was claimed Newcastle were interested in the striker who was rated at around £6m, United instead recruiting Emmanuel Riviere, rather than Islam Slimani or any the countless other forwards the club were linked with.

Since then, in 18 months the 27 year old has scored 28 goals in 35 league starts, a remarkable progression for a player who scored 32 in 96 appearances for Belouizdad back in Algerian domestic football.

At international level, Slimani has scored 21 goals in 31 appearances for Algeria, including two in each of his last couple of matches.

Sporting Lisbon are currently two points ahead of Benfica at the top of the table in Portugal and are said to be unwilling to sell, though with the money flying around in English football you never know, if there is indeed substance in the interest from Newcastle or Everton, or any other Premier League club.