Leicester City manager Claude Puel is anticipating January interest in Riyad Mahrez.
Riyad Mahrez might be hitting form at just the wrong time for Leicester City.
With the January transfer window around the corner, Mahrez is expected to be a target for North London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur as he continues to angle for a move away from the Foxes, according to The Sun.
However, his manager Claude Puel has told the Leicester Mercury that the club are confident of keeping their best players – of which the in-form Algerian is most certainly one – at the King Power Stadium beyond the New Year.
Leicester have climbed to eighth in the Premier League table courtesy of three successive victories, including two over top-seven opposition, and Puel has stressed the importance of not selling if they are to continue this progress.
“It will be important to keep our best players and to continue this work,” Puel is quoted by the Leicester Mercury as saying.
“I am confident at this moment in the quality of my team so this isn’t the time to talk about January. We will see this in time.”
Mahrez is close to rediscovering his PFA Player of the Year form from Leicester’s remarkable 2015-16 title triumph this season, scoring four goals including a stunner in Saturday’s 3-2 win over Newcastle United at St James’ Park.
The 26-year-old committed himself to the then-champions by signing a new contract at Leicester in August 2016, but a lot has happened since then to seemingly convince him that he needs to leave to fulfil his ambitions.
Mahrez and Leicester travel to Puel’s former club Southampton tonight in Premier League action.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
