Leicester City winger Riyad Mahrez has agreed to join Arsenal, as reported by Express.
The PFA Player of the Year who was said to be “distracted” by the Italian manager Claudio Ranieri, is believed to have agreed to join Arsenal in what would be the eventuality of one of the biggest transfer sagas pertaining to Arsenal.
Having claimed that Mahrez would be “100% staying” at Leicester, there was an aura of uncertainty in the words of the Foxes manager when he said that the Algerian has been distracted lately.
There are reports from Mahrez’s homeland stating that he is prolonging the signing of a new contract in order to engineer a move to Arsenal, after Algerian newspaper Le Buteur had a word with Arsene Wenger.
Leicester were seemingly angered with the presence of Arsene Wenger and Steve Bould in the 4-0 thrashing to French champions PSG, at the end of which Ranieri admitted that Mahrez might have been distracted.
“Maybe Riyad is distracted a bit by all of these rumours and speculation.
“But that is also an experience for my players. It is important that he understands that he should stay with us.
“He has to improve his fitness and play for the team as well last season.”
Mahrez is not the striker that Arsenal are looking for and need, but considering his performances in the title-winning season with Leicester City, he would be an asset to any team in the world.
The signing of Mahrez might mean that Alexis Sanchez will put up a shift and support Olivier Giroud at Arsenal’s frontline.
This will come as a big boost for Arsenal if at all they fail to sign a world class striker in this transfer window.
The presence of Mahrez, the recently fit and well-performing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and other wingers like Joel Campbell and Alex Iwobi, shall mean that Wenger can exercise different options up front with Olivier Giroud, Alexis Sanchez, Theo Walcott and youngster Chuba Akpom.
