Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri has admitted that star attacker Riyad Mahrez has been distracted from media reports linking him with a move to Arsenal.
The Algeria international had a superb 2015-16, playing an essential role in the Foxes being crowned English champions against all odds.
Mahrez won the PFA Player of the Year award in the process and is said to have a host of suitors ready to tempt him away from the King Power Stadium.
Arsenal missed out on Jamie Vardy earlier in the summer and are believed to have turned their attention to his Leicester team-mate, with talk that a deal could be completed before the start of the new Premier League season.
Despite no confirmation of any arrangement as yet, Ranieri’s has confessed that Mahrez has had his head turned to some degree thanks to the constant rumours linking him with a switch to the Emirates Stadium.
“Maybe Riyad is distracted a bit by all of these rumours and speculation,” The Mirror quote him as saying.
“But that is also an experience for my players.
“It is important that he understands that he should stay with us. He has to improve his fitness and play for the team as well as last season.”
