Newcastle could break club-transfer record to land Leicester outcast

Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez has identified Islam Slimani as a top transfer target this month and could even make the Leicester outcast the club’s most expensive signing of all-time, reports The Daily Mirror.

The Magpies haven’t broken their club-transfer record since signing Michael Owen from Real Madrid in 2005, which only highlights how restricted previous Newcastle managers have been during Mike Ashley’s regime.

Newcastle are among the league’s lowest scorers this season and Benitez is desperate to bolster his offensive options in a bid to bolster their chances of beating the drop this season.

Feyenoord striker Nicolai Jorgensen has also been tipped with a January move to St. James’ Park but Slimani is reportedly Benitez’s top choice.

The Algeria international, who emerged as a shock target for Chelsea earlier this month, has failed to live up to the billing since joining Leicester from Sporting in a deal worth £29m in August 2016 and now the Foxes value him at around £20m.

Claude Puel currently has Jamie Vardy, Kelechi Iheanacho, Leonardo Ulloa and Slimani to pick from for one spot in attack and the latter two are both keen to leave the King Power Stadium.

Leicester do not want to lose both strikers this month but it does seem certain that one will move on before deadline day.

Slimani, 29, has only started two Premier League games this season and been forced to make a further 10 appearances from the bench.