ASSE raise wage limit for Slimani - Leicester’s former record signing to join in January?

Their position in the table, the number of goals scored and the spectacularly failed transfer of M’Baye Niang leave little doubt that AS Saint-Étienne have a problem up front. Islam Slimani, one of the most expensive signings in the history of Leicester City, is supposed to help the club in this regard. Although he struggled to convince in the Premier League, he was able to prove himself in Ligue 1 already. For ASSE, it would be a financially difficult transfer, but not an impossible project according to L'Équipe.

Saint-Étienne had scored a very respectable average of two goals per game in their first four matches of the season – sitting on top of the table. In the last two months, only two further goals were added, however – zero points from six matches. From first place, the team dropped down to 15th, with only two teams (Dijon 5, Bordeaux 9) having an even poorer scoring record.

A prolific centre-forward seems to be missing. Someone who can help immediately – a veteran – who can help the team in the short term and does not have to develop slowly like the highly regarded but not yet finished homegrown talent Charles Abi. An emergency transfer of Rennes striker Niang failed after the “intervention of several agents”. Head coach Claude Puel subsequently had little success with playing 33-year-old winger Romain Hamouma in the centre.

Leicester’s record transfer Slimani set to leave - ASSE increase salary limit

The case of Slimani is of course a special one: Once he was directly involved in as many goals as he played matches for Sporting in the Portuguese Liga NOS. Then, he joined the Foxes for Leicester’s previous record fee of €30.5 million, while today’s ASSE head coach Puel was in charge. Afterwards, he enjoyed a good start in England before a drop in form followed by a disappointing loan spell at Fenerbahce and a more successful one at AS Monaco. And today? A single call up to Leicester’s Premier League squad, while being left out of the Europa League squad – only 19 minutes of playing time.

Slimani – AFCON winner in 2019 with Algeria – would not join on a low salary, of course. According to L'Équipe, Saint-Étienne are raising their limit to pay the wages of a new striker, although just from €1 million to €1.5 million a year. Slimani is rumoured to earn a salary of €380,000 gross a month at Leicester. Room for investment is narrow on ASSE’s wage list, but not at zero, the paper judges.

Record singings Three players surpassed Slimani at Leicester since 2016 Click here for overview At Leicester, there will probably be no future for Slimani anyway. His contract expires in the summer of 2021. The past loans, especially the one to Monaco, could underline the rumours that the Foxes want to get the striker off the payroll as soon as possible. It is possible that Slimani will be allowed to leave as early as January – on a free transfer and possibly receiving compensation for the last months of his deal in England. ASSE are understood to get themselves into a good position already.