OPINION
Newcastle United striker Aleksandar Mitrovic is reportedly keen to leave St James’ Park in January and the club should be considering Leicester ace Islam Slimani as his replacement.
Italian publication Calciomercato report that Torino are eyeing a swoop for Mitrovic in the New Year as the player looks for a move away to increase his game time.
Rafael Benitez will need to bolster his strikeforce if the 23-year-old leaves and should consider reigning a bid for Leicester’s attacker, with Dwight Gayle and Joselu the only other senior options in attack.
The Magpies were reportedly lining up a move for Slimani in the summer transfer window and should now return with a second raid.
The 29-year-old is currently on the fringes of the Foxes squad and Benitez should offer the temptation of more regular football at St James’ Park.
He is a 6ft 2in colossus forward that has become renowned for his threat in the air and would surely thrive off pin-point delivery from the likes Matt Ritchie and Christian Atsu.
Slimani has shown in the past he can be a serious goal threat by scoring 57 goals in 111 appearances for Portuguese giants Sporting.
The Algeria international also has 26 goals in 55 games for nation and is a clinical finisher in and around the penalty box.
He has not quite hit his best heights since his move to England with Leicester, but he is tailor-made for the Premier League with his physical strength and would really improve Newcastle’s threat in attack.
Newcastle need a forward to make an immediate impact in their team to boost survival hopes after Christmas and Slimani’s goals could fire them up the league table after a recent slump.