Riyad Mahrez Off To Arsenal? Wenger Confirms Big News, Leicester Fans Won't Like This

In a news bulletin that Arsenal fans the world over will surely be happy with, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has told beIN SPORTS he has an interest in signing Leicester City star Riyad Mahrez. Wenger was at the Leicester City versus PSG match, which fuelled the speculation that Mahrez could be on his way to Arsenal.

Although Wenger hasn't confirmed if a bid has been put in for the Algerian, the fact that he has confirmed Arsenal's interest in the African is quite interesting. Wenger of old will never reveal his interest in a player unless he knows a deal is close to be agreed or sure to be agreed.

If the deal is not close, could it then be that Wenger is deliberately trying to put pressure on Mahrez, the current PFA Player of the Year, to force a move? Leicester, obviously do not want to sell, although from all indications the player is ready to leave the King Power Stadium this summer, having rejected their contract offer.

Interestingly, Claudio Ranieri, who has always maintained he is 100% sure Mahrez will remain at Leicester City, yesterday all of sudden confirmed Mahrez has been "distracted" by the constant speculation around his future. If Mahrez is certainly staying at Leicester City, why is he now all of sudden being distracted by the rumours. How can one be distracted about something that they are not thinking of/about?

Signing Mahrez will be a masterstroke for Arsenal and, in my opinion, the deal is very possible. It is all dependent on if Wenger will finally accept the fact that the market is inflated and pay what is needed. And to be honest, it is high time Arsenal and Wenger accepted the fact that the transfer market is inflated. It is stupid and arrogant for Arsenal to want to decide the prices unilaterally. In the transfer market that exists in the summer window, market factors and not the buyer determine the prices.

Arsenal can't continue to expect to determine the price they pay for players. It is, in my opinion, hypocrisy, especially as the same Arsenal hasn't rejected the TV money that has caused the inflation in the transfer market.