Arsenal have placed a new and improved bid for Riyad Mahrez according to reports in France. French publication L’Equipe has claimed that The Gunners have placed an offer in excess of £35 million for the 25-year-old (via L’Equipe).
The Gunners have been on the prowl for a top-notch attacker this summer and Riyad Mahrez is one of the names at the top of their wish list.
Reports stated that Arsene Wenger’s initial offering of £30m was rejected but it appears that The Boss is returning with this renewed offer. The deal on the table is suspected to be £35m, with £7.8m in add-ons and bonuses.
The Foxes boss Claudio Ranieri has made several statements that the player will not be leaving the club this summer. The 2015-16 PFA Player of the Year winner is said to be reluctant to force any possible deal through and Leicester’s management could easily take full advantage of that to retain the Algerian. However it was revealed earlier in the week that the winger remains interested in a move to the Emirates.
Last season Leicester City beat all odds and in a Cinderella like fashion clinched the Premier League title. Mahrez was instrumental, raking up a 17 goal tally with 11 assists for the entire season. Front man Jamie Vardy has already turned down Arsenal’s advances and signed a new contract at the King Power Stadium this season, but Mahrez is still reportedly up for grabs with just weeks remaining in the transfer window.
The Algerian opened his goalscoring account in Leicester’s first game of the new season, converting a penalty for the Premier League defending champions’ only goal in their 2016/17 opener. However, the Foxes lost 2-1 to newly promoted Hull City.
This could be seen as proof that Leicester’s heroic last term was merely a one-season miracle which will not be repeated. If so, Mahrez should jump ships – if he’s not confident in the Foxes’ future – or he may risk seeing his stocks drop in the transfer market.
The Algerian would undoubtedly improve the Gunners; none can deny this. An Emirates Stadium move could turn out complicated for Riyad and Le Prof, though, given the number of talented attacking midfielders already at the north London club. However, with Giroud proving occasionally frustrating, Wenger could move Alexis Sanchez into the lone striker role. This would hand Mahrez a vacancy in Arsenal’s starting eleven.
Of course, all of this hinges on the long-serving French manager actually signing the Leicester ace. The fans want it; Arsene just need to work his magic to make the move happen.
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