Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has reportedly dismissed suggestions that the Gunners are in the running to sign Leicester City attacker Riyad Mahrez this summer.
The Algeria international has already revealed his intention to leave the King Power Stadium but he has yet to find a suitable club capable of matching the Foxes’ £50m valuation.
Earlier in June, Wenger had hinted that he could lodge a potential attempt to sign the 26-year-old despite him going through a tough season which included just six goals in the Premier League.
However, the long-standing manager has now typically ruled out a move for the former Le Havre man citing that he has similar players in the form of Mesut Ozil, Alex Iwobi and the forgotten Jack Wilshere.
“We were never close [to a deal]. I rate him as a player but we have similar types with Alex Iwobi, Mesut Ozil and now Jack Wilshere back. We have plenty of the same type of player,” he is quoted by The Independent.
Despite this, the Frenchman admits that he is still looking for recruits in the transfer window, although he will have to trim his first-team squad prior to the deadline.
He added: “We are still open. But of course at the moment I have currently 33 players and it is very difficult to manage on a daily basis such a high number.”
Arsenal open their Premier League campaign with a home game against Leicester City tonight, and Wenger will have to cope without the services of Alexis Sanchez, who is out with an abdominal strain.
Meanwhile, Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey appear to have recovered from their recent injuries as they took part in full training ahead of the Gunners’ curtain raiser versus the Foxes.
