The Champions of England were not off to the brightest start to their title defending Premier League campaign, having managed to take just the 1 point in their first two fixtures over Hull and Arsenal. Claudio Ranieri, the manager who made the dream come true, was not able to hold on to star player N’Golo Kanté but has the rest of his team intact for the next season and has not shied away from splashing the cash this summer. The manager has brought in 6 fresh faces and will be hoping to add all the quality players he can to his squad to help him compete not only in domestic competitions but also in Europe.
One such potential addition that seems to be on hold is Algerian forward Islam Slimani. The 28-year old is one of the most gifted strikers in the world at the moment and will easily be a great addition to any squad in Europe.
What’s Slimani all about?
He is an exceptional striker who has a unique ability to find the goal when the opponents least expect his to score. He is a physically imposing striker who loves to command the final third and is a player who relies on his teammates to find himself some space. He is not an exceptional dribbler who will breeze past opponents but is a player who loves to work his way through defenses with some smart football.
He loves to play short, quick passes that release him and his teammates into dangerous positions while his understanding of the game allows him to create space for others in his team. He is more than a decent finisher but most of his goals come from finding himself at the right place at the right time, a mantra all strikers should follow. He is strong in the air and cannot be easily dominated making him a constant headache for opposition defenders. He is a lively figure on the field who is hard to pin down and all these attributes make him a perfect fit at the King Power.
Currently, Ranieri has the likes of Leonardo Ulloa, Ahmed Musa and Shinji Okazaki as options to partner Jamie Vardy in his 4-4-2 formation. Musa has already stamped his authority on the squad with his performances in the pre-season and a blinding came against Arsenal but Slimani adds something to the squad none of the above-mentioned player can provide. He is a dynamic player who will add a different dimension to the Leicester City attack and is a player who will complement the England international in more ways than one.
The pace of and industry from Vardy will give Slimani loads of space to exploit and as already mentioned, Slimani can more than return the favor to Vardy when required. The 28-year old with all his experience is surely a great option and though Ranieri might now have to pay up to £34m for the player (after a bid for £21m was rejected) it is a price that is inflated by the current market conditions and is hardly relevant to the class of the individual. Yet, Slimani, if makes the move, may actually be able to justify his price tag come the end of the first season. Do you think Ranieri should spend on Slimani this summer?
