Thursday 4 August 2016 10:56, UK
Sporting Lisbon striker Islam Slimani is attracting interest from a string of Premier League clubs, including two that will play in the Champions League this season, Sky sources understand.
The 28-year-old Algeria international has scored 56 goals in 107 appearances for Sporting, including 32 in 44 last season.
A number of Premier League clubs want to sign a top quality centre-forward this summer and, with options limited, they have turned their attentions to a player who would cost upwards of £20m.
Sporting want to keep Slimani and, aware of interest from England, they have offered him a new contract to stay in Portugal.
But Sky Sports News HQ has been told that Slimani feels it is the right time to move on and wants to play in the Premier League.
It is understood the player recently had a meeting with Sporting president Bruno de Carvalho in which he was assured a move away was on the table after he scored so prolifically in the Portuguese Primeira last term.
Slimani recently impressed in a pre-season friendly against German club Wolfsburg, after which their centre-back Dante heaped praise on his opponent.
He said: "Marking Slimani was very difficult because he is a player who always looks to come deep.
"He's a big-club player. The coach's philosophy is for a lot of ball movement, and William Carvalho and Slimani are two excellent players."
