BENITEZ HAS SLIM CHANCE

NEWCASTLE boss Rafa Benitez is weighing up a move for Leicester’s Islam Slimani – and Watford are also keen.

Algerian hitman Slimani (above) arrived for a club record £29million from Sporting Lisbon a year ago.Iheanacho and But now he finds himself trailing Jamie Vardy, Shinji Okazaki, £25m Kelechi Leonardo Ulloa (left) – who has just signed a new two-year deal – in the pecking order.

Slimani scored twice in the Carabao Cup win at Sheffield United in midweek, but Leicester are open to cashing in on him if they can recoup a chunk of that £29m outlay.

Last season Slimani, 29, scored seven top-flight goals in 23 appearances, of which 10 were off the bench.

STRIKER EMMANUEL RIVIERE HAS LEFT NEWCASTLE TO JOIN LIGUE 1 CLUB METZ ON A TWO-YEAR CONTRACT