Islam Slimani: 'I held summer talks with Marco Silva over Watford move'

By Giuseppe Labellarte, Reporter | 08 October 2017

Slimani: 'I held summer talks with Watford'

Islam Slimani admits to holding talks with Marco Silva in the summer over a proposed move to Watford, but Leicester City made it clear that the Algerian was not for sale.

Leicester City forward Islam Slimani has revealed that he held talks with Watford manager Marco Silva in the summer about a proposed move to Vicarage Road.

The Algeria international joined the Foxes from Sporting Lisbon for a club-record £28m fee following their 2015-16 Premier League title success.

However, Slimani endured a difficult baptism in English football, scoring just eight goals as Leicester battled relegation in an underwhelming campaign.

The 29-year-old enjoyed a more productive spell working under Silva during their time together at Sporting, scoring 15 goals during the Portuguese's sole season at the Estadio Jose Alvalade in 2014-15.

Slimani has admitted that he felt tempted by the prospect of linking up with his former boss in Hertfordshire, before Leicester made it clear that the player was not for sale.

"I had a conversation with Marco Silva, who was my coach at Sporting, and he was very interested in having me on the team," Slimani told Algerian newspaper Le Buteur.

"He presented me with a magnificent project, but unfortunately it did not materialise. The leaders of Leicester City told me they wanted me here.

"But they are things of the past, now I am focused on my team."

Slimani, who has over three-and-a-half years remaining on his contract at the King Power Stadium, has scored three times so far this season for Leicester, but is yet to get off the mark in the Premier League.