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Report: Tianjin prepared to spend £35M on Leicester's Slimani

Darren Staples / Reuters

Ambitious Chinese Super League club Tianjin Quanjian is apparently looking into adding Islam Slimani to its attacking ranks after failed bids for a host of leading Europe-based strikers.

The Leicester City striker hasn't been the subject of any formal bid or talks between the two outfits, according to Sky Sports News HQ, but it's suspected it would take a fee comfortably over £29 million - the amount the Foxes paid Sporting Lisbon for Slimani's services last summer - to acquire the Algerian.

Sky Sports News' Kaveh Solhekol went further in stating that Tianjin will part with £35 million to nab Slimani, with Leicester eyeing Jackson Martinez - a €42-million signing for Chinese champion Guangzhou Evergrande last February - as his replacement.

Slimani's proficiency at holding up the ball and his five goals in 13 Premier League appearances have helped the Foxes to their current position of just five points above the drop zone, but Tianjin, managed by World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro, is on a determined hunt for firepower.

Tianjin owner Shu Yuhui claimed that recent rule changes restricting the number of overseas players fielded in a CSL match had seen moves for the likes of Chelsea's Diego Costa, Real Madrid's Karim Benzema, and Paris Saint-Germain's Edinson Cavani break down recently, but he stoically stated the club's pursuit of a poacher wasn't over.

"We couldn't afford to wait half a season," Yuhui said of Cavani only being made available in the summer. "We continue to wait and suffer, but at the end of the day, we'll get someone."

Slimani missed Leicester's last four matches due to his participation in Algeria's Africa Cup of Nations campaign, but he, along with Riyad Mahrez, could be in contention for Friday's FA Cup test at Derby County after the Desert Warriors' group-stage elimination on Monday.

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