LEICESTER TO HOLD ON TO RIYAD MAHREZ

After losing Ngolou Kante, Leicester is now battling not to lose another key player from their 2015/16 dream team. They have slapped a £ 45,000,000 pricetag for teams interested in their Algerian playmaker Riyad Karim Mahrez.

The winger is one of Europes hottest transfer prospects after scoring 17 goals and creating 12 to inspire his underdog team to secure its maiden Premier League title.

Even with champions league football in the cards for Leicester next season,  Mahrez looks ready to follow his former teammate Kante, to get a bigger European team. Reportedly, he has rejected a new contract that would double his wages with the Foxes.

The winger became the first African player to win the Premier League Football Association player of the year last year after the key performances that inspired Leicester’s title run. His manager, Claudio Ranieri must be determined to retain his services having described the winger as “priceless” last season while heading into the January transfer window.

The former La Havre man who joined the club for £ 375,000 was ranked in the list of Europes 50 most valuable players last season. This saw his value rise to above  £ 30,000,000 after the outstanding season.

Even with a new contract from Leicester on the table, many top teams are after the 25-year-old. Sky bet, a reknown betting company, has placed Mahrez’s odds for leaving at 6/5 (2.20) to join Antonio Conte at Chelsea, 7/2 (4) to join Mesut Ozil at Arsenal. Next, 7/1 (8.00) to join Jose Mourinho at Manchester United and the most unlikely 12/2 (13.00) to make what would be his dream move to Barcelona.

Featured photo courtesy of Paul Childs / Reuters