Islam Slimani in loan link with Aston Villa
Islam Slimani has been linked with a switch to Villa as their search for a striker intensifies.
Reports in France claim Villa are looking to loan the striker, who is currently on a temporary deal with AS Monaco, from parent club Leicester City. Slimani has scored seven goals for Monaco so far this season as well as adding a further seven assists.
But reports suggest he is looking for a way out of the Ligue 1 club following the departure of coach Leonardo Jardim last month. Slimani scored 13 times in 46 games for Leicester following a £28million move from Sporting Lisbon in 2016.
The Algerian was the Foxes’ record signing, but his career at the King Power never took off and he has not been in the plans of previous boss Claude Puel or current chief Brendan Rodgers.
Villa are without a striker after injuries to Wesley and Keinan Davis, while Jonathan Kodjia is out of the side and heavily linked with a move the Championship club Nottingham Forest.
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson said their loan capture of Cenk Tosun does not spell the end of Christian Benteke’s career in south London.
Benteke, who scored 49 goals in 101 games for Villa, has been heavily linked with a move back to the claret and blues.
But Hodgson said of Benteke and Tosun: “I don’t think bringing a new player into the club as centre-forward should mean it is definitely the end of the road for another player.
“Of course they can play together. Of course one can play and one can sit on the bench.”
