Arsenal set to test Leicester City resolve with January swoop for Riyad Mahrez
Arsene Wenger has been heavily linked with the Foxes flyer over the last two years and is set to revive interest as Alexis Sanchez heads for the Emirates exit
ARSENAL are lining up a tilt at Leicester City winger Riyad Mahrez.
The Algerian has been on Arsene Wenger’s radar since the Foxes won the Premier League title in 2016.
Wenger pondered another move for the 26-year-old last summer but now is ready to test Leicester’s resolve with a big money offer in January, according to Algerian outlet Le Buteur.
Roma were the only club to make a formal offer for the winger last summer.
However the three bids from the Serie A side fell short of the Leicester’s valuation of around £45million.
The Gunners are resigned to losing Alexis Sanchez next month or on a free transfer next summer and are desperate for a top quality replacement.
Manchester City are odds-on to sign the Chilean forward who is looking to link up with his former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola at the Etihad.
Mahrez is back to his best form after struggling last season with four goals in his last eight games under new Foxes boss Claude Puel.
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Leicester top brass will fight to keep the 2016 PFA Player of the Year with suggestions talks could drag until the back end of transfer window next month.
The attacker signed a new deal until 2020 two years ago with a huge pay rise to around £100,000-a-week after their Premier League triumph.
But significantly no release clause was inserted which allows the King Power hierarchy the chance to demand the highest fee possible for the in-form wide man.