In her column for The Sun, the Hammers vice-chairman wrote following Claudio Ranieri's dismissal: "A fellow Premier League director reports that last night he bumped into the Leicester chairman at London's most expensive wine shop. The Leicester owner told him they'd sacked Claudio Ranieri.

"He then casually settled his bill for wine and champagne. Since the sum was close to £500,000 I guess the compensation to his old manager is pocket change. At least the owner can drown his sorrows in style!"

It's now reported that the comments backfired spectacularly as the Foxes owners refused to discuss a deal for Slimani, who ended up at Newcastle.