Leicester City boss Claude Puel has acknowledged that he is open to parting ways with Islam Slimani during the January transfer window.
The Foxes broke their club record to sign Slimani ahead of the 2016-17 campaign, but the Algerian forward has played second fiddle to Jamie Vardy during his time at the King Power Stadium.
Sporting Lisbon have been linked with a reunion with the forward, and Puel has suggested that he is considering the player's future.
The 56-year-old told reporters: "Time will tell, there is still time to talk about January. He is still in squad and was on bench for my first game.
"It's now hard because players working very well, very hard in training sessions. It;s always difficult for me to make assurances to players. Don't know transfer window yet. We have a lot players for this position, players are working well, difficult for me to do this."
Slimani has played just 118 minutes of Premier League football this season, although he could feature in Leicester's EFL Cup quarter-final tie with Manchester City on Tuesday night.
Darren Plant
