Done but not done. All the Portuguese media agree that Islam Slimani is leaving Sporting for Leicester City. The player’s tears after the big match against Porto on Sunday made pretty clear that he’s departing from Lisbon.
But the club president Bruno de Carvalho is still pushing for more money, true to his character.
According to Record, the negotiations between the clubs are developing well and the business should be sealed in the next few hours.
Leicester have offered €35m and now Sporting are trying to include €5m more in bonuses.
Both the sides want the deal to happen, so even if the Foxes fail to meet Sporting’s demands, an agreement should end up happening anyway. The newspaper claims that Slimani has already submitted a work permit request to the FA.
Record says that €35m is the same amount offered by West Brom, although they don’t give information on why the Baggies aren’t in the race anymore.
But O Jogo claims that WBA were rejected by Slimani since he wants to join the Premier League Champions. Claudio Ranieri is working hard to have the player too, and this mutual desire is why the deal shouldn’t have any reason to collapse.
The transfer is expected to be done at any time, especially because Sporting have already spent money to buy replacements for the striker, who after one more goal against Porto yesterday, will leave Lisbon known as the Dragon Slayer.
