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Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers has warned Aston Villa that a loan move for Foxes forward Islam Slimani is likely to be “too complicated”.
Villa are desperately chasing a new striker after Wesley was recently ruled out for the season with an ACL injury, while Keinan Davis is also on the sidelines, and Jonathan Kodjia is set to move to Qatari side Al Gharafa.
It is understood Villa will this weekend sort out the international clearance paperwork that will allow Tanzania international Mbwana Samatta to complete an £8.5million move from Belgian side Genk.
But Villa are also believed to be chasing Slimani, who in August joined Monaco on a season-long loan from Leicester.
City’s former record signing, who moved to the Foxes for £29million in August 2016 from Sporting Lisbon, has scored seven goals in 13 Ligue 1 appearances for Monaco.
Show all 21 1 /21Top 20 January 2020 transfers so far Top 20 January 2020 transfers so far Top 20 January 2020 transfers so far Here we rank the top 20 signings of the window so far in terms of both immediate impact and long-term potential. Many of the signings so far have involved talented youngsters who may or may not prove to be sound investments, while others have moved for veterans, knowing their impact will be restricted to the next year or so, though their value could be tremendous if they secure their safety amid numerous relegation battles across the continent
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Top 20 January 2020 transfers so far 20. Ignacio Pussetto: Udinese to Watford (£7.2m) Nigel Pearson has been impressed with the Argentine winger's attitude. And a resurgent Watford may turn to the former Huracan star quickly as the continue their battle against relegation
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Top 20 January 2020 transfers so far 19.Carles Alena: Barcelona to Real Betis (loan) An exciting young midfielder desperate for game time, Betis will provide that to the delight of Spanish football fans
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Top 20 January 2020 transfers so far 18. Gedson Fernandes: Benfica to Tottenham (loan, £4.5m) Jose Mourinho's first signing, the Portuguese midfielder failed to command a regular place in the Benfica side this season, but could prove valuable once his manager eventually develops this Spurs side
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Top 20 January 2020 transfers so far 17. Patrick Cutrone: Wolves to Fiorentina (loan, £2.7m) Failed to impress or settle at Wolves, but predictably back and scoring already with the Viola, who will gladly pay the £12.8m after his 18-month loan for one of the liveliest forwards in Italy. Limited for now, but his eye for goal will be valued greatly in Florence
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Top 20 January 2020 transfers so far 16. Mattia Caldara: AC Milan to Atalanta (loan) Two serious injuries scuppered his move to Milan, but now he's back where he made his name before the Juventus move. On loan for the next 18 months with a £12.8m option, if he can return to peak fitness, Atalanta have picked up a bargain who could extend their incredible run at the top of Italian football in recent years
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Top 20 January 2020 transfers so far 15. Strahinja Pavlovic: Partizan to Monaco (£9m) Another outstanding young talent snapped up and loaned back out, Pavlovic will be back with Partizan for the coming months, then Monaco will hope to see the centre-back develop into one of Europe's strongest defenders
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Top 20 January 2020 transfers so far 14. Diego Demme: RB Leipzig to Napoli (£10.8m) Named after the great Diego Maradona, so Demme will be warmly welcomed at Napoli. His experience in traveling through the divisions with Leipzig should be a welcome addition to Napoli, and enable him to contribute right away
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Top 20 January 2020 transfers so far 13. Youssef En-Nesyri: Leganes to Sevilla (£18m) An exciting young forward who flashed brilliance with Leganes this season, Sevilla ought to see his best years in the coming seasons, which should be exciting under Julen Lopetegui
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Top 20 January 2020 transfers so far 12. Jean Clair Todibo: Barcelona to Schalke (loan, £1.35m) The French defender is Schalke's gain as Barcelona failed to develop him in his year at the Nou Camp, signed on loan but with a £21m option, the 20-year-old could emerge as one of the most exciting defenders in Europe. Barcelona could re-sign the player for £42m if they feel they have made a mistake
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Top 20 January 2020 transfers so far 11. Pepe Reina: AC Milan to Aston Villa (loan) Another veteran signing, who will fill the gap after Tom Heaton's season-ending injury, if it enables Villa to stand a chance of staying up then it will be a shrewd, underrated move
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Top 20 January 2020 transfers so far 10. Exequiel Palacios: River Plate to Bayer Leverkusen (£15.3m) Already an Argentina international, the 21-year-old featured in River's journey to the Copa Libertadores final, but will now look to become a key player for Peter Bosz in the Bundesliga
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Top 20 January 2020 transfers so far 9. Joao Pedro: Fluminense to Watford (£3.6m) The 18-year-old Brazilian is one of the finest talents of his age, with Watford beating off plenty of competition for his signature, if he turns out to be as successful as Richarlison, who made the same journey, then the Hornets will be delighted
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Top 20 January 2020 transfers so far 8. Julian Weigl: Borussia Dortmund to Benfica (£18m) Another silky midfielder who just lost his way somewhat at Dortmund since the departure of Thomas Tuchel, a fresh start in Portugal should see the German rediscover the joy of playing
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Top 20 January 2020 transfers so far 7. Zlatan Ibrahimovic: AC Milan (free transfer) Not many years remaining at the top, but Ibrahimovic, as the focal point, can still cut it for a side like Milan, who will play to his strengths. After Piatek's struggles, Milan could not resist their former player, even if it is just for six or 18 months. If the Swede helps them to bridge the 10-point gap currently to fourth, then he could prove to be the signing of the window
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Top 20 January 2020 transfers so far 6. Stanislav Lobotka: Celta Vigo to Napoli (£18m) A classy operator able to dictate the tempo of the game, Napoli picked up a potential bargain and added more class to an already outstanding midfield
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Top 20 January 2020 transfers so far 5. Raul de Tomas: Benfica to Espanyol (£18m) Unable to break through at Benfica, De Thomas hit 14 goals in La Liga before earning his move to Portugal and Espanyol require most of those over the course of the remaining weeks of the season, as they sit bottom of La Liga and four points from safety, but £18m could prove a bargain if he fires them to safety
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Top 20 January 2020 transfers so far 4. Dejan Kulusevski: Atalanta to Juventus (£31.5m) An exciting young wide player picked up prematurely by Juventus to ensure their rivals did not jump in before them. The Swede, 19, did not come cheap, but back at Parma for the remainder of the season, where he has four goals and seven assists this season, and Juve have a gem either for the start of next season or the one after that
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Top 20 January 2020 transfers so far 3. Duvan Zapata: Sampdoria to Atalanta (£10.8m) A loan deal made permanent for just £10.8m, a no-brainer for Atalanta even when added to the £12.6m they paid to loan him for two years in the first place. In his prime at 28 and with 35 goals and 11 assists in 59 games already, the Colombian could fire La Dea back to the Champions League again next season with the club currently fourth in Serie A
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Top 20 January 2020 transfers so far 2. Takumi Minamino: RB Salzburg to Liverpool (£9m) The bargain of the window perhaps, Liverpool took the next best available player at Salzburg in Minamino for a daft £9m. A neat and tidy player capable of functioning in Klopp's system, the best get even better
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Top 20 January 2020 transfers so far 1. Erling Haaland: RB Salzburg to Borussia Dortmund (£18m) Europe's hottest young player heading into the winter break and Dortmund struck gold by beating off a host of big clubs and can now build around Haaland for the next few years
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However, a move to Villa means Monaco would have to consent to release the 31-year-old Algeria international, as well as Leicester sanctioning the deal.
“I think that looks like it’s probably going to be too complicated,” said Rodgers when asked about Slimani joining another club in this transfer window.
“There is interest in him, but he is there at Monaco and due to be there for the season.
“I’m not sure if anything will happen on that or not, but it will just make it a little bit complicated.”
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