Arsenal: Riyad Mahrez Can Do Wonders For Team Sheet

Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez has reportedly agreed to join Arsenal. Should the two clubs agree a transfer fee, the Algerian will reignite Arsenal’s right flank.

Reports from EUROsport France have stated that Leicester City’s star wide man, 25-year-old Riyad Mahrez has agreed to join Arsenal.

The deal has allegedly been agreed between Mahrez’s agent and Arsene Wenger, who met with the Algerian’s agent in Lens after Arsenal’s friendly 1-1 draw with RC Lens on Friday.

Arsenal still have to agree a transfer fee with Leicester City, and the reported amount is no small thing. €50m is the price tag, and that’s before the Gunners have put in a single concrete offer.

The market for Mahrez had seemingly dried up, according to Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri. Ranieri said, on the topic of transfer rumors, that the market ‘is over’ for his star players. He went as far as mentioning his star winger Mahrez by name and saying the 25-year-old “wants to stay”.

These conflicting reports, especially since the “no” reports have come directly from Ranieri, are interesting considering FC Barcelona were linked with Mahrez and failed to complete a transfer earlier in the window.

All of Leicester City’s star players have been linked with moves away from the King Power Stadium already this summer, namely N’Golo Kante and Jamie Vardy (not to mention Mahrez himself).

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N’Golo Kante’s move away was determined as extremely likely prior to the window’s opening, and Leicester’s pursuit of AS Monaco midfielder Nampalys Mendy was a red flag that the Foxes were looking to replace their tireless midfielder.

Soon after Mendy’s arrival was confirmed, Kante was packing his bags and heading to Antonio Conte, Chelsea’s head coach. If a pattern can be noticed from these star players leaving small clubs, Leicester’s most recent move in the transfer market could be indicative of Mahrez leaving.

The Foxes have made a £6.25m offer for 19-year-old Cracovia (Poland) star Bartosz Kaputska, according to multiple reports.

Kaputska is a two-footed winger and a capable runner with the ball. Some of those reports mention that the title-defending Foxes are looking to patch up the hole left by Kante’s departure, but this looks like a move to improve Leicester’s wing play with Demarai Gray and Marc Albrighton the wingers other than Mahrez currently at the club.

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Should Mahrez’s move be confirmed in the near future, Arsenal will have a complete attacking midfield, filled with players than can do damage to Premier League defenses. Alexis Sanchez, having completed his role switch to become a left-sided player, will have an equally capable player on his opposite flank.