Islam Slimani is back in Watford’s sights with the Hornets plotting a January bid for the Algerian striker, but Leicester City’s £30million record signing may be priced out of a move to Vicarage Road.

Links between Slimani and Hornets head coach Marco Silva have understandably blossomed since the latter took over in Hertfordshire back in May.

Both Slimani and Silva were both at Sporting Club in Lisbon during a hugely successful 2014/15 campaign.

Their respective values have only risen since then, with the 29-year-old striker netting a magnificent 27 goals in 33 games for the club the following season.

He could prove a like-for-like replacement for Stefano Okaka, who the Watford Observer understands is now set on leaving the club in January.

Slimani's form in Portugal persuaded Leicester to depart with that huge bounty to bring him to the King Power Stadium on the back of their own Premier League triumph, but seven goals in 23 games as the Foxes struggled with relegation worries did not lead to a happy first year in English football.

Both Slimani and Leicester are keen to move on from the deal and give the player a chance of a new start, but while Watford would seem a perfect destination for him to do so, his price tag may prove a stumbling block.

The Foxes are determined to save face over their record buy and want to recoup most of the sum they paid for him, despite his poor track record since his move to the club.

It would, at present, take an offer well in excess of the £18.5 million the Hornets paid Burnley for record-signing Andre Gray in August, and while Scott Duxbury and Gino Pozzo are happy to invest money in the club’s coffers, the move does not look like a good deal on paper.