Islam Slimani sealed a loan move to Newcastle United towards the end of the transfer window.
He might, however, have ended up at West Ham. The London club wanted to sign the Algerian international, with a report claiming the deal failed to materialise because of comments made by the club’s vice-chairman, Karren Brady, about Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, the Leicester owner and chairman.
A source told The Guardian that attempts to bring Slimani to the London Stadium were hindered by comments Brady had made in her column for The Sun last year.
‘A fellow Premier League director reports that last night he bumped into the Leicester chairman at London’s most expensive wine shop,’ Brady had written. ‘The Leicester owner told him they’d sacked Claudio Ranieri.
‘He then casually settled his bill for wine and champagne. Since the sum was close to £500,000 I guess the compensation to his old manager is pocket change. At least the owner can drown his sorrows in style!’
The report claims that Leicester’s owners were offended by the comments and, although it’s claimed Brady apologised to Srivaddhanaprabha some time ago, the source suggested this was the reason Leicester refused to consider negotiating with West Ham for Slimani. This opened the door for the striker’s move to St James’ Park, where he’ll spend the rest of the season.
