Arsene Wenger has given an update on the potential transfer of Riyad Mahrez from Leicester and claimed that the Gunners were never close to signing the Algerian (via The Mirror).
With the Premier League set to return this evening, Arsenal fans will be hoping for not only a few wins in the coming weeks, but another couple of signings coming in.
So far, Arsenal have only recruited Sead Kolasinac and Alexandre Lacazette and there are still a couple of areas which Arsene Wenger will need to strengthen.
One of those positions is out wide and after the club’s very public pursuit of Thomas Lemar, many Arsenal fans looked at Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez as a potential signing.
The 2016 PFA Player of the Season had long been linked with a move to the Gunners and looks set to leave the Foxes this term, however it seems that Arsene Wenger is not keen.
“We were never close [to a transfer],” Wenger said of the Algerian.
“I rate him as a player but we have similar types with Alex Iwobi, Jack Wilshere back, Mesut Ozil … we have plenty of the same type of players.”
As true as that is, it would’ve been nice to see Riyad Mahrez in an Arsenal shirt. The Algerian was the best player in the Premier League a couple of seasons ago and would’ve brought something different to the likes of Iwobi, Wilshere and Mesut Özil.