Leicester boss Claude Puel remains coy on Slimani's future

Casemiro opens up on why he nearly CANCELLED his £70m move to Man United from Real Madrid... as the Brazilian star reveals an emotional chat with Carlo Ancelotti almost changed his mind
Ratcliffe's revolution continues! Man United confirm appointment of Jason Wilcox as new technical director after agreeing compensation with Southampton and will start new role with immediate effect
PHIL FODEN on the very personal reason why he wears No 47, how he deals with the relentless Pep Guardiola... and he finally settles a Man City myth
Cole Palmer was asking to leave Man City for TWO seasons, reveals Pep Guardiola... as he admits he 'didn't give the Chelsea star the minutes he deserved'
Arsenal's April curse strikes again! SAMI MOKBEL reveals exactly what needs to change for Mikel Arteta to win major honours
Can Chelsea pile more misery on Man City and end their double hopes? The Blues are 12/5 to win FA Cup semi-final tie... with Cole Palmer 2/1 to score anytime against his former side
Zinedine Zidane 'would prefer to manage Man United over Bayern Munich' and is 'monitoring the situation at Old Trafford'... DESPITE being 'close' to a deal to replace Thomas Tuchel at Bundesliga giants
Lower-league clubs could BOYCOTT the FA Cup in fury after the Premier League and The FA agreed to scrap replays in the hallowed tournament
Michael Schumacher's incredible watch collection 'is set to be auctioned by his family' with eight of his unique timepieces 'expected to fetch an estimated £5M'
Tired? Give it a rest. If Man City keep talking about feeling jaded then they'll start to believe they are, writes GRAEME SOUNESS
Coventry have been penniless, homeless and at war with their owners but, like the city bombed in 1940, they have risen from the rubble to set up their semi-final date with Man United
Richard Keys claims Jurgen Klopp has 'KILLED' Liverpool with 'ill-judged' mid-season announcement about leaving, as Reds' campaign unravels ahead of his summer exit
Man City 'are already preparing for life after Pep Guardiola and have identified LaLiga boss as a potential successor to the Spaniard when he leaves the Etihad'
New footage shows Xabi Alonso and his Bayer Leverkusen staff reacting to finding out Europa League semi-final opponent, as footage prompts fans to warn German champions about underestimating Roma
Man United target names the Red Devils as a club he'd love to play for, despite snubbing Erik ten Hag's advances for TWO YEARS... with Premier League rivals also on his list
Newcastle star Bruno Guimaraes hints he will STAY at the club after splashing £4MILLION on house in the North East - as Premier League rivals prepare to tempt Brazil star away from Tyneside
Ryan Garcia vs Devin Haney is ON despite troubled fighter weighing 3.2lbs overweight - and will pay his rival $1.5MILLION after $500k press conference bet
Wales and Burnley legend Leighton James dies aged 71: Tributes flood in for 'massive personality' and 'brilliant player' whose football career spanned more than 600 games
Bayern Munich are 'one step away' from appointing Zinedine Zidane as manager... with Frenchman also monitoring managerial situation at Manchester United
Emma Raducanu LOSES to world No 1 Iga Swiatek in straight sets in quarter-finals of the Stuttgart Open.. as her winless run against top-10 players drags on
Barcelona legend urges the club to hire Jose Mourinho to replace Xavi despite history managing rivals Real Madrid... as he explains why he would be a 'great signing 'at the Nou Camp
Unai Emery hails Emiliano Martinez as the 'BEST goalkeeper in the world' after match-winning display and antics against Lille, but admits he 'thought Argentine would be sent off'
Rugged Ronaldo! Picture of Portuguese superstar with beard goes viral, but is the facial hair a new look for 39-year-old or generated by AI?
Chelsea 'are set to rival Man City for Jamal Musiala' as Blues look to bring former youth star back to England after starring for Bayern Munich

Leicester manager Claude Puel remains coy on the future of Islam Slimani
The striker has played just 10 minutes since Puel took over at the King Power
Leicester beat Puel's former side Southampton 4-1 at St Mary's on Wednesday
The Foxes take on Roy Hodgson's Crystal Palace side on Saturday at 12.30pm

By Nick Mashiter, Press Association Sport

Published: 12:34 EDT, 15 December 2017 | Updated: 12:35 EDT, 15 December 2017

e-mail

Leicester boss Claude Puel has offered no guarantees record signing Islam Slimani will stay with the Foxes.

The striker has played just 10 minutes since Puel was appointed manager in October.

He has failed to impress since a £30million move from Sporting Lisbon in August 2016, netting 12 times in 41 games.

Claude Puel has offered no guarantees record signing Islam Slimani will stay with the Foxes

Leicester spent £25million on Kelechi Iheanacho in the summer while Leonardo Ulloa, Shinji Okazaki and Ahmed Musa are also options to support Jamie Vardy, and Puel remained coy on Slimani's future.

'Time will tell to speak about the January transfer window but he is in the squad,' Puel told a press conference ahead of Saturday's visit of Crystal Palace.

'He was on the bench for the first game. He provides the same option as Ulloa because Ulloa works very well in the training session, harder.

The striker has played just 10 minutes since Puel was appointed manager in October

'I think now Slimani is working very well also. It is always difficult for me to make assurances with competition between the players.

'It is difficult for me to say what will happen in the transfer window but it is difficult for me and the staff to manage all these players for the same position.

'But they all work like Slimani, Ulloa, Iheanacho and Musa, different players they work very well.

'It is very difficult for me to leave some players off the bench.'

Robert Huth (ankle) is close to returning from injury but will not be available for Saturday

The Foxes beat Puel's former club Southampton 4-1 on Wednesday in the Frenchman's first return to St Mary's since he left in June.

They are eighth in the Premier League, just five points adrift of the Champions League spots, but Puel is demanding more ahead of the visit of the Eagles.

'We must continue the work on the pitch, not look at position in the table. We must not be satisfied. It was a good result, with good play, but it is important to continue this work,' he added.

Robert Huth (ankle) and Matty James (Achilles) are close to returning but are not fit for the weekend.