Arsenal join Spurs in £24m race for prolific forward, ideal Vardy alternative

by Jonathan Gorrie @JonnieGorrie share

25/6/2016 | 11:20am

Arsenal have joined arch rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Premier League champions Leicester City in a battle to land Sporting Lisbon forward Islam Slimani, according to A Bola.

The Algerian has been strongly linked with a move to the Premier League after a prolific season in the Portuguese capital, notching a whopping 31 goals in 44 games.

Having missed out on Foxes forward Jamie Vardy, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger must turn his attentions elsewhere in the hunt for a new striker.

Neither Olivier Giroud or Theo Walcott have wholly convinced in the central striking berth, highlighting the Frenchman’s need for more firepower.

The 28-year old forward is understood to have a £24m release clause in his deal with Sporting, making him a more expensive option than the England star for the North London giants.

Juventus’ Alvaro Morata has also been mooted as a potential target, along with Napoli superstar Gonzalo Higuain.