Chelsea made an offer to Leicester City to sign Algerian striker Islam Slimani on loan as they seek to strengthen their misfiring frontline before the transfer window closes. Antonio Conte is unhappy with the attacking options currently at his disposal and reportedly wants more striking options for out-of-form striker Alvaro Morata with the striker yet to convert in his last six games.
The Italian manager admitted that his club-record signing is struggling to cope with regular playtime and being the target man. Conte reportedly wants to share the load to enable good efficiency. Slimani has struggled so far with the striker managing to hit the target once in 14 Premier League appearances this season.
Conte is desiring a Centre forward with Premier League experience with the interest in Edin Dzeko who the club is closing on, but The Times report that they will try to land Slimani too. The Algerian, unlike Dzeko, would be eligible to play in the Champions League, with Leicester’s failure to qualify for champion’s league.
Dzeko is increasingly likely to move to Stamford Bridge in a £44 million double deal involving Emerson Palmieri, with Roma ready to cash in on the Bosnian as he will turn 32 in March and is one of the club’s highest earners. If Conte gets his wishes, Morata will be offered backup by Dzeko and Slimani – who has mainly been nothing more than a sub at Leicester, scoring just once in the Premier League. The desperation of Conte comes as a result of Batshuayi’s failure to prove and establishment himself in Conte’s plans. The Belgian forward looks set for a possible loan move to Sevilla and Borussia Dortmund – who could soon be without a striker if Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang joins Arsenal with the Dortmund side lining him as likely replacement. While Morata has scored just twice in his last nine games, Dzeko has surprisingly has the same goal tally in his last 16 matches and is enduring his own sticky spell of form.