Spurs target Slimani has summer agreement to leave Sporting
Islam Slimani was a wanted man after the World Cup and stories are circulating of a potential Tottenham bid but that is far more likely to happen this summer.
The 26-year-old Sporting Lisbon striker scored 3 goals and created 1 for Algeria at the World Cup in Brazil this summer and I thought we might be interested in him then. He looked like a finisher and didn't seem to need to many chances to score. Buying a player on the back of a World Cup however has never been a reliable route to success.
He has now scored in his country's first game in the African Cup of Nations, a 3-1 win over South Africa that Nabil Bentaleb played in. Leicester City, West Ham, Schalke (Germany) and Trabzonspor (Turkey) were said to be interested in him then with reports of a £7 million ($10.60m - €9.13m) offer. Slimani tried to force a move through but Sporting wouldn't cave in. In fact the president banished him and a teammate to the fringes.
His contract runs until 2017 and his scoring record last season for them wouldn't fill anyone with fear, 8 goals in 26 games. Digging deeper though he only played 1,118 minutes, equivalent to just 12.42 games so his goals tally, plus the 4 assists looks much better. He scored a goal every 140 minutes and was involved in a goal every 93.17 minutes.
This season it's a different story with 7 goals in 12 games Portuguese Primeria Liga games, plus 4 assists in 964 minutes, that's a goal every 138 minutes and involvement in a goal every 87.64 minutes. He has also scored 2 UEFA Champions League goals (Schalke, Maribor) in 6 games.
Slimani is the kind of athletic, workaholic forward who would fit in a Pochettino team and at 6ft 2in would offer a threat in the air, as well as using his deceptive pace. He boasts a powerful shot from a short back-lift. The Portuguese coach and manager of Ethiopia, Mariano Barreto, also spoke about his work rate.
He earned a basic £4,000-a-week ($6,056 - €5,216) before the World Cup, now he earns a basic £7,000 ($10,599 - €9,128) so wages aren't going to be an issue if the reported £6 million ($9.08m - €7.82m) bid Tottenham are considering making were to be successful. However he has a £23 million ($34.83m - €30m) buy-out clause and during the summer Sporting insisted it was met so that suggests the bid would not be accepted.
Recent Articles
Moyes wants Soldado and Capoue
Adebayor has no problem with Pochettino
Eriksen & Kane responsible for 68% of Spurs points
Eriksen's stock rising
Neville feels Spurs are improving mentally
Then again he has a verbal agreement that he can leave at the end of the season if an acceptable offer is received, not necessarily his buy-out clause though so a summer move seems far more likely than one this window. (Source Sept 2014: The Guardian)
Portuguese clubs put large buy-out clauses in contracts to maximise transfer fees and players wanting a wage increase have to accept a higher buy-out clause.
If you want someone to watch at the African Cup of Nations apart from Bentaleb, then he may be your man.
The 26-year-old Sporting Lisbon striker scored 3 goals and created 1 for Algeria at the World Cup in Brazil this summer and I thought we might be interested in him then. He looked like a finisher and didn't seem to need to many chances to score. Buying a player on the back of a World Cup however has never been a reliable route to success.
He has now scored in his country's first game in the African Cup of Nations, a 3-1 win over South Africa that Nabil Bentaleb played in. Leicester City, West Ham, Schalke (Germany) and Trabzonspor (Turkey) were said to be interested in him then with reports of a £7 million ($10.60m - €9.13m) offer. Slimani tried to force a move through but Sporting wouldn't cave in. In fact the president banished him and a teammate to the fringes.
“They are, for now, training away from the first-team and won’t be training with the B, C or D teams either. Both players made decisions that led to them being the subject of strong disciplinary measures. We won’t tolerate blackmail or pressure from outside, and we certainly won’t give in to agents and funds [third-party owners].”
His contract runs until 2017 and his scoring record last season for them wouldn't fill anyone with fear, 8 goals in 26 games. Digging deeper though he only played 1,118 minutes, equivalent to just 12.42 games so his goals tally, plus the 4 assists looks much better. He scored a goal every 140 minutes and was involved in a goal every 93.17 minutes.
This season it's a different story with 7 goals in 12 games Portuguese Primeria Liga games, plus 4 assists in 964 minutes, that's a goal every 138 minutes and involvement in a goal every 87.64 minutes. He has also scored 2 UEFA Champions League goals (Schalke, Maribor) in 6 games.
Slimani is the kind of athletic, workaholic forward who would fit in a Pochettino team and at 6ft 2in would offer a threat in the air, as well as using his deceptive pace. He boasts a powerful shot from a short back-lift. The Portuguese coach and manager of Ethiopia, Mariano Barreto, also spoke about his work rate.
“He may not be as deadly a finisher as Jardel but there’s more aggression to his game and he works so hard for his team. He keeps going, harassing defenders. He was a revelation last season, and confirmed his ability at the World Cup.”
He earned a basic £4,000-a-week ($6,056 - €5,216) before the World Cup, now he earns a basic £7,000 ($10,599 - €9,128) so wages aren't going to be an issue if the reported £6 million ($9.08m - €7.82m) bid Tottenham are considering making were to be successful. However he has a £23 million ($34.83m - €30m) buy-out clause and during the summer Sporting insisted it was met so that suggests the bid would not be accepted.
Recent Articles
Moyes wants Soldado and Capoue
Adebayor has no problem with Pochettino
Eriksen & Kane responsible for 68% of Spurs points
Eriksen's stock rising
Neville feels Spurs are improving mentally
Then again he has a verbal agreement that he can leave at the end of the season if an acceptable offer is received, not necessarily his buy-out clause though so a summer move seems far more likely than one this window. (Source Sept 2014: The Guardian)
Portuguese clubs put large buy-out clauses in contracts to maximise transfer fees and players wanting a wage increase have to accept a higher buy-out clause.
If you want someone to watch at the African Cup of Nations apart from Bentaleb, then he may be your man.
Post a Comment