Arsenal’s extensively reported pursuit of Leicester City’s Riyad Mahrez was one of the biggest transfer stories of the summer.
The Algerian international, like Foxes team-mate Jamie Vardy, was a big transfer target for Arsenal after last season, with reports of a £40m+ transfer commonplace throughout the summer months.
Indeed, at one stage it was being reported that Mahrez had already agreed terms with Leicester’s Premier League rivals and all that was to be sorted was the transfer fee.
However, Mahrez’s manager Claudio Ranieri always insisted that the 25-year-old was going nowhere, and the speculation was finally put to bed when he signed a new four-year deal in August.
For the first time, Mahrez has spoken about the scuppered deal and has confirmed that while Arsenal did indeed make a bid for his services, he was never going to force the issue when it became clear that Ranieri and Leicester were determined to keep him.
He told Canal Football Club:
“There was contact with Arsenal,
“But Leicester wanted to keep me and I was pretty expensive.
“I did not want to create a conflict when the offer came in.”
Mahrez insisted he has no regrets over the transfer that never was, and is determined to make this season just as good as last year on a personal level:
“Personally, I think it is a good thing I stayed put,
“It’s now up to me to prove myself again.”
Last season’s PFA Premier League Player of the Year has so far failed to match the standard set in the title-winning campaign, in the league at least. He has scored just once in seven appearances as Leicester’s title defence looks to be over before it has even properly begun.
He is, however, faring a bit better in the Champions League. He scored twice in the 3-0 opening win at Club Brugge, and also set up the winner for Islam Slimani in the 1-0 over Porto to leave his side on six points form their first two games.
Meanwhile, French international Djibril Sidibe has also been explaining why he turned down a summer move to the Emirates. The 24-year-old full-back moved from Lille to Monaco in a €15m deal in July, but late interest from Arsene Wenger briefly turned his head before he ultimately opted to stay in Ligue 1.
He also heavily implied that he would be making the move to England next season, despite only being at Monaco for a few months.
Sidibe told Le Parisien:
“I was on the brink (of signing for Monaco) and (Arsenal) gave me a headache by making a bid at the last moment,
“After reflecting on it, I was not certain my playing time would be guaranteed.
“I would have played maybe 25 games this season, including the cups. They also wanted to use me on the left whereas I want to establish myself on the right.
“I chose to stay in Ligue 1 and then leave for the Premier League next year because it is a competition that greatly appeals to me.”