Algerian winger Riyad Mahrez has attracted the interest of a number of top clubs across Europe with his title winning performances for Leicester City last season. The 25-year-old has recently stated that he would be open to a move away from Leicester if the right club came calling.
Mahrez has been one of the top transfer targets for Arsenal over the past few weeks, and the Foxes have reportedly rejected a £30 million offer for the winger. The Premier League champions are hoping to keep hold of their talisman, but he has recently refused to rule out a move away from the club.
The Algerian stated that he would consider a move if the right club came calling.
“It is a super league and I would like to stay here as long as possible. Now, there are two or three clubs in the world, that if they come for me, it definitely makes you think, if you understand what I am trying to say,” Mahrez said in an interview with Football France.
The 25-year-old also compared the Premier League to Europe’s other top leagues, stating that he believed it was the best in the world.
“It is the best league in the world, the most exciting, where there is the most at stake. There is also constantly a little uncertainty. Last year, we won the league. In Spain, you will never see Levante or Granada finishing top. In France, since the new PSG, it is the same.”
Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri has expressed his belief that Mahrez will stay on with the champions for at least one more season. However Arsenal are not ready to give up and are reportedly readying an increased bid of £35 million for Mahrez. The Gunners had earlier made an effort to sign their striker Jamie Vardy, with the Englishman instead opting to sign a new contract at Leicester.
The Foxes haven’t got off to the best of starts this season. They lost the Community Shield match against Manchester United and kicked off their Premier League campaign with a shock 2-1 loss to newly promoted Hull City. These recent events could have a profound impact on the Algerian, as the Foxes try desperately to shake off the tag of one season wonders.
