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Club chief posts Instagram message proclaiming Arsenal attacker target not for sale
By Joe Nelson
Leicester co-owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha has teased Arsenal by seemingly stating that Riyad Mahrez will not be sold this summer.
The 59-year-old posted a picture on his Instagram account following The Foxes’ 4-2 pre-season friendly defeat to Barcelona on Wednesday, making light of the speculation surrounding the winger and strongly suggesting that he is eager to keep hold of the Algerian international.
Srivaddhanaprabha’s post quoted him as saying, ‘You not for sale’, with Mahrez replying, ‘Ok boss’. Both men were seen laughing in the image taken in the corridor of the King Power Stadium.
Eurosport reported last week that the Algerian midfielder was close to following N’Golo Kante out of the Leicester exit door and join Arsenal in a £42million deal.
Arsene Wenger was present for Leicester’s previous loss to Paris St Germain in Los Angeles on Sunday and subsequently refused to deny that he was trying to sign the Algerian.
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“I cannot give you a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ because we do not publicize our transfer interest and the best way to make things happen is to keep it as secret as possible,” he said after watching the game on the sidelines.
“Yes of course we watch all the players but we play Leicester in the second game of the championship so it’s a good opportunity for us to see them.”
Mahrez scored 17 goals and provided 10 assists in The Foxes’ remarkable title-winning campaign as he was named the 2015-16 PFA Player of the Year.
If Leicester can keep hold of their prized asset, in tandem with the recent arrivals of Ahmed Musa and Bartosz Kapustka, then Claudio Ranieri will have a wealth of attacking options to choose from this coming season.
SkyBet currently have the former Le Havre man at 11/10 to join to the North London club before the transfer window closes, but it seems that the Leicester co-owner is adamant he is going nowhere.
In other Arsenal transfer news, a deal done is to be done on Thursday as player arrives to sign after Arsenal finalise terms.