Last year’s PFA player of the year awardee and Leicester City’s star playmaker Riyad Mahrez has been linked with a move away from the King Power stadium for a few weeks now. This should not come as a surprise. After all, it was expected that many money spangled Premier League sides would pounce on Leicester’s squad in the summer. Arsenal have already attempted bringing Jamie Vardy to Arsenal, while N’golo Kante has moved to Chelsea for a £32m fee.
Having been linked with Mahrez consistently, The Sun claims that Mahrez has hinted that he is moving to Emirates, based on the fact that the Algerian has now followed a most unlikely Arsenal player; Yaya Sanogo.
Yes, this, in actual fact, has happened. We know this for certain that this is not much of a story, but for a PFA player of the year to follow a player who has remained unseen, both in the pre- season and possibly at London Colney, is, undeniably strange and compelling.
Yes, I can agree that The Sun are trying to create a story from nothing at all. In all probability, Mahrez is Sanogo’s friend, and the two must follow each other on twitter. However, the suggestion that development on social media ( citing Pogba’s transfer to Manchester United) has had a direct correlation with what happens in the actual world is interesting.
However, developments on twitter and on the overwhelmingly large canvas of online interactions between players, or their agents, or anyone from the world of football, must not be mistaken as the only indications for a transfer, and such is definitely not the case in so far as Arsenal have previously attempted to lure the Algerian.
Previous reports have indicated that Leicester have stuck to their guns in keeping hold of the winger in spite Arsenal’s attempt at bringing him to North London for about £35m.
Needless to say, it seems rather strange that Arsenal should be interested in him, for they are sufficiently equipped in quality in that position. There is no doubt that he would be an upgrade over several player Arsenal have already, though a striker ( as many have opined all along , and yes, we are all bored of saying it again and again!!) should be Arsene Wenger’s priority, considering that Arsenal are not close to signing anyone in that position.
Welbeck is injured, Akpom looks promising, Walcott’s uncertainty over his position is likely to continue into the new season. Alexis is a winger, while Giroud, is in need of competition, and the only thing that the other orthodox number 9 at Arsenal ( Sanogo) has been doing is making his presence felt on social media.
It’s the second week of August! Do you guys think Mahrez will join Arsenal?
