Arsenal Transfer News: Latest on Riyad Mahrez and David Ospina Rumours

Reports from Leicester City star Riyad Mahrez's homeland say the mercurial midfielder has agreed to join Arsenal.

Algerian newspaper Le Buteur (h/t Lewis Winter of the Daily Star) reported manager Arsene Wenger "met with Mahrez and his agent" to thrash out details of the deal, and the player will now find his way to the Emirates Stadium in due course.

The newspaper said Mahrez is "insistent" on joining the Gunners as he prepares to become the latest name to leave the Premier League champions.

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The Foxes are prepared to pay the PFA Player of the Year £100,000 per week to stay in the east Midlands, per Winter, but his head appears to have been turned by Wenger. Mahrez netted 17 times as the King Power Stadium side shocked world football by racing to the title, making the Algerian an overnight sensation in England.

Arsenal missed out on the chance to sign team-mate Jamie Vardy earlier in the window, but Mahrez appears keen to abscond from Leicester after their ultimate success, according to Le Buteur.

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Former England international Danny Mills told BBC Radio 5 live the wizard should exit the champions and that team-mate Vardy should have made the jump to the Emirates when he had the chance earlier in the summer (h/t James Walters of the Daily Star).

Mills said: "If I was Jamie Vardy I would have walked to the Emirates. Mahrez should do the same."

Mark Brus of Metro speculated why Wenger is specifically turning towards the attacking entity:

In other news, goalkeeper David Ospina is set to stay in Wenger's squad with Wojciech Szczesny expected to move back to Roma on loan.

James Beng of the London Evening Standard reported the reserve stopper is "happy" to remain in north London as he deputises for No. 1 Petr Cech. Ospina has had a "a change of heart " in recent weeks after making no appearances for the Gunners over a four-month period last term. However, he received game time when Cech was injured in March and April and impressed supporters.

Ospina spoke to reporters about his current situation during the Gunners' pre-season commitments in Los Angeles, per Beng.

"I have a contract with Arsenal, I’m happy with the team," Ospina said. "We are fighting for the top of the league. Now we have two weeks until we start the season. These friendlies serve us very well.”

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Mahrez would be a sensational capture for Arsenal, but the team still needs a primary striker—which the Leicester star is not.

The Algeria international will certainly score goals in the Premier League, but his totals last season were supplemented by Vardy, potentially leaving the weight of goalscoring on Olivier Giroud's shoulders next term.

The Frenchman has the ability to be a regular scorer for Wenger but proved last season he needs additional help in the box from an alternative striker when he slips out of form.

The manager will have to find space in his starting XI for Mahrez, Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez—and the conundrum could cause the Arsenal coach a headache he doesn't want or need.