Riyad Mahrez, 25, has become the latest of Leicester City’s key players to reject a new deal offered by the club.
The Foxes were elated when Jamie Vardy, 29, rejected a move to Arsenal and signed a new four-year contract worth £100,000 per week. Since then, things have turned sour with N’Golo Kante, 25, joining Chelsea over the weekend in a £32m deal.
Mahrez claims that his “dream move” is to Barcelona but with the Catalans not showing any real interest in him so far, Chelsea have once more emerged as contenders for his signature.
New Blues boss Antonio Conte is looking to rebuild his attack and bring his dynamic style to the Premier League. Having already landed Michy Batshuayi, 22, and Kante, Mahrez’s pace and goalscoring instinct would suit the Italian’s vision of how football should be played.
Whether they can land the Algerian international is another matter. Leicester haven’t given up hope of persuading him to stay at the King Power stadium and are readying fresh talks over his future. Mahrez was previously linked to Arsenal.
Despite claiming that he would stay as last season’s title celebrations got into full swing, it’s now apparent Mahrez has had a change of heart and his future lies away from the East Midlands.
Read all transfer ins and outs, completed deals visit football transfer news.
