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Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri joins chase for £10m Sporting Lisbon star
LEICESTER CITY'S new boss Claudio Ranieri has joined the chase for Sporting Lisbon's £10 million rated striker Islam Slimani.
Islam Slimani is wanted by a number of Premier League clubs including West Brom and Newcastle
Ranieri to be officially unveiled as Nigel Pearson's surprise successor tomorrow at the King Power Stadium wants the 27-year-old striker but won't have things all his own way.
West Ham, West Brom and Newcastle have all shown an interest in the Algerian international with an eye for goals.
Newcastle have virtually sealed the £12 million signing of Anderlecht forward Aleksandar Mitrovic and are also front runners for QPR's Charlie Austin but owner Mike Ashley has given new head coach Steve McClaren the go ahead to bring in quality players to St. James' Park.
Slimani is on the Tyneside radar and is anxious to make a move to the Premier League, something former Chelsea boss Ranieri has been made aware of as he attempts to shape his own squad at Leicester.
Patrick Bamford who enjoyed a uccessful loan spell at Middlesbrough last season could be heading back to Teesside after he was left out of Chelsea's first team squad for their pre-season trip to the USA.
It appears that Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is prepared to allow the striker to go out on loan again and Boro will be a the head of the queue to snap him up for a second time.