Arsenal Transfer News: Riyad Mahrez Reportedly Wants Gunners Move, Fresh Rumours

Leicester City star Riyad Mahrez has reportedly expressed his intent to join Arsenal to various parties. 

That's according to Ilyes Ramdani of Eurosport.fr (translated by Tom Coast of Sport Witness) on Twitter, who suggested the Algerian winger has made it clear he would like to make the switch to the Emirates Stadium.

“No one will have missed the fact the player remains silent and has not once said or insinuated he wants to stay at Leicester, but he completely refuses to go head-to-head with a club he has a lot of respect for (and who obviously want to keep him),” his posts read. “He has therefore told all parties about his wish to play for Arsenal, but he won’t force a move away from Leicester.”

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It’s understandable that Mahrez possesses a lot of admiration for Leicester. The King Power Stadium club gave him a chance to shine at the elite level, and brilliant performances played such a crucial part in Leicester’s shock title win last season.

As these numbers from WhoScored.com show, Mahrez’s creative talent has been on show for his last two campaigns in English football's top flight:

It’d be no surprise if Arsenal were keen. Manager Arsene Wenger has always been a massive admirer of footballers that possess excellent technical skills; Mahrez has those, plus an ability to find space, take on players and conjure big moments in the final third of the field.

With Leicester keen to keep hold of their star man, especially after the sale of N’Golo Kante, and the player said to be unprepared to force a move, it seems unlikely Arsenal will get this one done between now and the end of the window.

Meanwhile, Leicester will give Mahrez the chance to show what he can do in the UEFA Champions League next term.

Arsenal End Striker Search, Chase Shkodran Mustafi

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According to Matt Law of the Daily Telegraph, Arsenal’s striker search is “on hold” with the club having now made Valencia’s Shkodran Mustafi their top target.

With injuries to Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny and Gabriel Paulista, the Gunners are facing a major defensive crisis ahead of their Premier League curtain-raiser on Sunday against Liverpool. Law noted that’s why they’ve switched their focus to securing the Germany international.

Indeed, it’s stated “a bid in the region of £20 million for Mustafi is expected to be placed inside 48 hours in the hope a deal could be rushed through.”

Aside from Mustafi, according to Bleacher Report’s Dean Jones Arsenal are also interested in West Bromwich Albion’s Jonny Evans:

The centre of defence is an area that Arsenal have often looked a little soft in, and an upgrade may be needed to make it worthy of a title-winning team. Mustafi is a defender with the credentials to do exactly that, having made major improvements during his time at Valencia.

With both Mustafi and Evans potentially costing around the £20 million mark, the former would be the sounder acquisition. ESPN FC’s Dermot Corrigan believes he’d be a fine purchase for the Gunners:

Although Evans has long cut his teeth in the Premier League and is someone that could potentially slot into the team at short notice, in the long run Mustafi has to be considered the better option for Arsenal.

For a player that’s still improving, competed at the highest level and would immediately improve the Gunners, the sum would represent great value for the German. Arsenal’s desperation to get a defender in before Sunday may well play into Valencia’s hands, though.