Riyad Mahrez’ proposed move away from Leicester could well be off after a surprising claim by his manager Claudio Ranieri.
It appears that the ‘wantaway’ midfielder may not be quite so anxious to leave the Premier League champions after all.
Widespread reports last week claimed that the Algerian was ready to push for a move to Arsenal or Chelsea, but Ranieri has a message for the doubters.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the Foxes’ 2-1 pre-season win over Oxford, the Tinkerman revealed:
“I think everybody here is happy. It’s finished, the market has finished.”
Asked specifically about Mahrez, he added:
“Yes, he wants to stay.”
The news will come as a huge relief to Leicester fans, both their actual supporters and romantic neutrals across the football world, who will have been disappointed to see N’Golo Kante join Chelsea.
Despite Leicester’s phenomenal success, it was thought that their key players would move on, but while that has been the case with Kante, it seems Mahrez could join Jamie Vardy in opting to stay put.
Ranieri has insisted that his side’s target this season is once again 40 points, but if the PFA Player of the Year stays true to his word and remains at the King Power, then Leicester could be in for another sensational season.
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