No progress on Arsenal and Liverpool target Riyad Mahrez's transfer situation, says Claude Puel

Sport360 staff 00:13 19/01/2018
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  • Mahrez has been heavily linked with a move away from Leicester.

    Leicester City manager Claude Puel insists there has been no progress on transfers at the club – in or out.

    Riyad Mahrez continues to be the subject of intense media speculation, having asked to leave Leicester in the summer. Then, only Roma made firm offers, their final bid rising to £32million.

    However, Arsenal and Liverpool have reportedly lodged an interest since.

    The Foxes do not want to sell the winger and Puel, who earlier this week said Mahrez could be worth as much as £100million in the summer transfer market, said: “There is nothing new to say about Riyad.

    “It is always the same thing, my response is the same. I am happy with him and he is enjoying his football and playing, this is the most important thing.

    “We can see in his performances in the games. He is a very good player and he likes this club, he likes his team-mates and there is a good feeling with him.

    “At this moment nothing is close to happening. For me and all the players, always this period is difficult for the players and the clubs, but it is important to manage it right.”

    The 2015/16 Premier League champions have been linked with several players this month. The latest is Marseille full-back Bouna Sarr with reports in France stating Leicester have had two bids for the defender rejected.

    Meanwhile speculation persists that Foxes striker Islam Slimani is a target for Turkish club Besiktas.

    Puel is looking to add to his squad but ahead of Saturday’s home game against Watford he said: “We are not close at the moment to sign any player. I think we work normally in this window.

    “It is important to keep our focus about our transfer window. If we cannot find a good player with good attributes, who can strengthen the squad, I think it is important to keep this squad, because they have a fantastic attitude.

    “If we can improve the squad we will sign a player but at the moment we are not close.

    “For Slimani, I cannot give all the details about an individual player.

    “I repeat what I have said all along, we have a lot of strikers and we need to make a good balance in the team and give some game time for all the players.

    “We will see if some player can win some game time at other clubs. We have to discuss with these players.”

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