Despite all the rumours surrounding an exit, Islam Slimani, as the new Portuguese season draws nearer, remains a Sporting CP player.
The Algerian striker was the centre of attention towards the start of the transfer window, especially when his release clause was about to expire.
Slimani, who is highly rated by the Primeira Liga club, would have been available to clubs willing to shell out €30m, but that came to an end in June, and now Sporting have full negotiating power.
The Portuguese side are now looking to get minimum what his release clause used to be if they were to let their striker leave, and A Bola reckon there’s still a long queue of teams wanting his services.
The vast majority relays an article on the Guardian’s website stating Ronald Koeman sees the Algeria international as the perfect replacement if Romelu Lukaku ends up at Chelsea.
They say a bid of £16.5m is being readied, but we can already see Bruno de Carvalho laughing his head off if that amount was offered, especially considering how well the player has started preseason.
What caught our eye, however, is the list of the clubs at the bottom.
A Bola end their article with: “Remember that Islam Slimani is still a target for Southampton, Leicester, Tottenham, Arsenal and Napoli.”
While all those clubs might have held an interest in the Sporting striker at some stage in the past, we doubt they’re all still after him, bearing in mind Leicester, Tottenham and Napoli have all already signed strikers this summer.
We’re just going to go with A Bola not having a lot to say on this right now and needing something extra in an article based on not very much.
