NEW: Sky Sports confirm BIG development in NUFC's attempt to sign Leicester striker Islam Slimani
Big news emerging on the striker front in the last few moments, with widespread reports now claiming that Islam Slimani's loan move to NUFC is 'all but done', with the club having agreed a loan deal with Leicester to bring him to Tyneside until the end of the season.
Sky claim that Newcastle have now won the race to sign the 29-year-old striker, fending off competition from West Ham and Monaco.
A loan fee of £2m has been reported, with Slimani looking set to replace Aleksandar Mitrovic on Tyneside, with the Serbian nearing a loan move to Anderlecht.
Here's confirmation from Sky in the last few moments:
https://twitter.com/SkyKaveh/status/958651067499188226
https://twitter.com/BlackWhiteBarmy/status/958658207773323265
https://twitter.com/SkySports_Keith/status/958655008769282049
These claims from Sky have also been backed up by the Mail's North-East correspondent Craig Hope, whose told that his loan signing is 'all but done', whilst the Telegraph's Chief football correspondent Jason Burt claims that Slimani is also expected to sign for NUFC today - with the club paying a £2m loan fee and covering the Algerian's wages:
https://twitter.com/CraigHope_DM/status/958652097888702464
https://twitter.com/JBurtTelegraph/status/958648061995225091
It has been revealed that Slimani has picked up a slight thigh injury which could sideline him for two weeks, however his potential loan arrival must be seen as a huge boost.
After all, he cost Leicester £29m after scoring 31 goals for Sporting Lisbon and, despite not setting the world alight during a mixed spell at with the Foxes, he's a much better signing than any of us could have anticipated given the negativity around NUFC coming into deadline day.
