Summer speculation linking Watford with Leicester City flop Islam Slimani may have been close to the truth - after the Algerian striker revealed he held talks with head coach Marco Silva.

Slimani and Silva worked together at Sporting Lisbon two years ago, when the forward was in sizzling form to score 15 goals in 22 starts.

His £28 million move to Leicester last summer yielded seven goals in his first season in the Premier League, but he has yet to find the form of such a transfer fee and was linked with the Hornets in August.

"I had a conversation with Marco Silva, who was my coach at Sporting, and he was very interested in having me on the team," he told Algerian newspaper Le Buteur.

"He presented me with a magnificent project, but unfortunately it did not materialise. The leaders of Leicester City told me they wanted me here. But they are things of the past, now I am focused on my team."

Watford's move for Andre Gray may have scuppered a deal for the 29-year-old, as the Hornets made the Burnley man their record signing and now have three strikers competing for a solitary position, with Troy Deeney and Stefano Okaka also in the frame.