Arsenal must let Riyad Mahrez pressure fester

Arsenal and Leicester City are reportedly £15 million apart with their valuation of Riyad Mahrez. The Gunners must be patient at let Mahrez’s desire to leave fester with the Foxes.

In the modern footballing world, players hold the power. While it may be the clubs who splash out the wages and the transfer fees; while it may be the TV companies that pay the big bucks that ultimately fund the sport; while it may be the fans who pay good money to get into the stadium and watch their heroes in person, it is the players who hold the power, as Arsenal have so painfully discovered in the past.

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Ultimately, the rarest quality in modern football, from the stadiums, to the managers, to the fans, is the players. There are very few people in the world that possess the athletic talents that many of the world’s best footballers boast.

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But the demand for the elite players is always increasing. Owners become more demanding, fans become more desperate and managers are forced into action. That drives the value of the players up, both in terms of transfer fee, wages and the influence that they hold at their respective clubs. Ultimately, if a player is good enough, it is rare that a player does not get what he wants.

The reason why I have set this piece up by highlighting the power players have in the modern game is to prove that Arsenal must be patient in their transfer behaviour this summer, especially in their pursuit of Leicester City winger Riyad Mahrez.

Per recent reports, Leicester and Arsenal are £15 million apart on their valuations of the player, with the Gunners unwilling to table offer north of £35 million. £50 million is a steep price to pay for a player of Mahrez’s inconsistent ability. But by being patient, Arsenal can position themselves with a much kinder outlay.

Mahrez has publicly revealed that he want to leave the King Power. In a long-winded statement, just after the season drew to a close, Mahrez revealed that he had had talks with the Leicester owner last summer. They concluded that he would stay one more year to play in the Champions League, before again considering his future.

After more talks this summer, Mahrez has stated his intention to leave. Arsenal would certainly be an attractive destination for the Algerian, and if there is genuine interest, then Mahrez would know about it. If Leicester are blocking a sale because of a disparity in price, then Mahrez will kick up a fuss and cause problems in an attempt to force a move. In turn, that may drive the price down, such that the Gunners can take advantage.

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Mahrez may or may not be worth £50 million. It is certainly a lot of money for a player who has had little more than one sensational season in the Premier League. However, by being patient and letting the situation to fester, Arsenal could yet land their man, and for a fairer price.