Arsenal and Liverpool bid for Sporting Lisbon’s striker Islam Slimani

Liverpool and Arsenal are the latest clubs to see bids for Sporting Lisbon striker Islam Slimani rejected, according to reports in Portugal.

Sporting are understood to have rejected a €20million offer from Leicester City for Slimani earlier this week with SAPO Desporto also reporting Everton and Tottenham Hotspur are also interested.

The 27-year-old striker scored 31 goals in 46 games last season as Sporting finished second behind Primeira Liga champions Benfica and he has caught the attention of numerous clubs across Europe.

And Portuguese news outlet Noticias ao Minuto has now reported that Liverpool and Arsenal have seen €25million bids turned down by Sporting, who are expected to play hardball over the player’s future.

Slimani is believed to have a €30million release clause in his contract and Sporting Lisbon boss Jorge Jesus is not prepared to allow the Algeria international striker to leave for less.

The former CR Belouizdad frontman, who moved to Portugal in August 2013 for £225,000, has scored 56 goals in 109 appearances for the club and has a contract until 2020 with the Portuguese outfit.

Jesus revealed last month that he wanted the striker to stay.

“I would like for Slimani to stay,” he said. “This area is for the president. The coach also has a say, and [the Sporting president] knows my opinion,” Jesus told SIC Noticias.

“At present, 30 million for a player like Slimani is nothing.”

Slimani only penned a new contract in August last year and then he spoke of his desire to stay with Sporting and thanked the president for his deal.

“I am very happy with this renewal with Sporting. It is recognition for the work I have been doing at the club,” Slimani told Sporting’s official website. “I am very evolved as a player here and I hope to continue to win more titles at Sporting after the Cup and the Super Cup.”

In an interview with Portuguese outlet La Gazette du Fennec, Slimani added: “I thank him for that [new contract]. This shows that I am important not only for him but also for the team and the club. As I have always said I want to stay here for many years.”