£26m Attacker To Snub Chelsea & Liverpool In Favour Of Arsenal Move

Managers are now pressing ahead with their plans for the summer transfer window so we’ll bring you all the latest news and gossip from around the globe. Today, Riyad Mahrez wants to play under Arsene Wenger….

Leicester City attacker Riyad Mahrez is ready to snub interest from the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool in order to play under Arsene Wenger at Arsenal, according to a report in The Sun.

Mahrez made his name in England after playing a starring role in Leicester’s sensational 2015/16 campaign when the attacker scored 17 goals and provided a further 10 assists to fire the Foxes to the title.

The Algerian international won the PFA Player of the Year award and was the subject of interest from the likes of Arsenal and Barcelona before opting to stay at the King Power and sign a new deal.

Mahrez struggled to replicate his best form last season as Leicester finished mid-table but he did showcase his talents in the Champions League where he helped his team reach the quarter finals.

However, the 26-year-old is set for a move this summer after handing in a written transfer request and The Sun claim that the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool have all registered their interest.

Antonio Conte needs to strengthen his squad if Chelsea are to compete in the league and Champions League next season and Mahrez would offer some stiff competition for the likes of Eden Hazard, Pedro and Willian if he moved to Stamford Bridge.

Liverpool are also gearing-up for a return to the Champions League next season and Jurgen Klopp is expected to be extremely active in the market with Mahrez also seemingly on the German coaches radar after finalising a deal to sign Mohamed Salah yesterday.

However, it looks like Chelsea and Liverpool could miss out as The Sun are reporting that Mahrez wants to join Arsenal in order to play under Arsene Wenger in north London.

Wenger is facing a hectic summer of upheaval at the Emirates with the future’s of Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all in serious doubt and it seems Mahrez has been lined-up as a potential replacement.

The French coach recently reiterated his admiration for the Algerian star and admitted a bid could go in this summer. Wenger is quoted as saying by The Sun earlier this month:

“We have not made a bid, but personally, I like the player [Mahrez], yes.

“I think he made a huge impact when they won the championship. Like at everybody else at Leicester, this season has been more challenging, but it doesn’t take away from his qualities.

“Have we made a bid for him? No. Not yet. No, we have not. When I say ‘not yet’ it means it could happen. It might not happen.”

We’ll have to wait and see how things develop over the coming weeks but the newspaper suggests that Leicester will want at least £26m in exchange for Mahrez’s signature.

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That sounds like an excellent deal in today’s market for the former PFA Player of the Year so I wouldn’t be surprised if Arsenal jump at the chance to sign Mahrez if this report is accurate.