Leicester City owner gives hands off warning to Arsenal over Riyad Mahrez transfer

KEY POINTS

Riyad Mahrez scored 17 goals to help take Leicester to the PL title last season.
Arsenal have signed Granit Xhaka, Takuma Asano and Rob Holding thus far this summer.

Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha made it clear via social media that Riyad Mahrez is not for sale following their pre-season friendly against Barcelona, which they lost 4-2. The club are keen to keep him at the King Power Stadium beyond the summer after his impressive performances last season attracted the attention of top clubs across Europe.

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The Algeria international scored 17 goals and provided 11 assists to lead the Foxes to an unlikely Premier League title win and was also voted the PFA player of the year. This has prompted speculation regarding his future at the club with Arsenal said to be keen on taking the attacker to the Emirates Stadium this summer.

Arsene Wenger is looking to bolster his attack and Mahrez can provide an added avenue for goals and assists alongside Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez. The Frenchman was spotted during Leicester's pre-season game against Paris Saint-Germain in Los Angeles and confirmed during an interview that he was watching the versatile attacker, while hinting at a possible bid.

According to Algerian publication Le Buteur, the Leicester star has agreed on a move to Arsenal after holding talks with Wenger, but the Foxes are unwilling to let him leave this summer. Claudio Ranieri is desperate to hold on to Mahrez, while the owner has now made it clear albeit in a humourous way that he is not for sale.

Srivaddhanaprabha posted a picture of him with Mahrez on his official Instagram page, with mock conversation between the two as the caption. The Foxes chief wrote: "'VS: You Not for sale!!' with a fictional reply from Mahrez: 'Ok boss'," as quoted by the Daily Mail.

Leicester have already seen N'Golo Kante leave for Chelsea and have also thwarted Arsenal once this summer as Jamie Vardy rejected the Gunners' advances to sign a new deal with the Foxes. They are hoping Mahrez follows suit and it is believed that they have offered the Algerian a new deal said to be worth around £100,000-a-week.