Riyad Mahrez still determined to leave Leicester in January after being priced out of a summer move
Algerian will attempt to earn a winter exit from Foxes after missing out on potential switches to Arsenal, Roma and Chelsea
RIYAD MAHREZ is still determined to leave Leicester City in January after being priced out of a move during the summer window.
The Algerian winger released a statement at the end of last season confirming his desire to leave the Foxes.
But despite plenty of interest in the 26-year-old, potential buyers were put off by the £50million figure quoted by King Power chiefs.
Leicester’s director of football Jon Rudkin showed his tough negotiating skills as he recouped £35m for Danny Drinkwater from Chelsea.
And although his stance on Mahrez is not likely to soften in the winter, the attacker will still try to earn a transfer away.
Despite his intention to exit, he has started the season well for Craig Shakespeare’s men and has already provided two assists.
He knows he will need to continue his form to ensure the big boys remain interested in him once the window reopens in January.
Speculation mounted on deadline day that Chelsea had agreed a £45m fee to bring him to Stamford Bridge, but that move failed to materialise.
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He left the Algeria national team’s training camp and was spotted at an airport in Paris – but Leicester chiefs were perplexed due to the lack of offers received.
Mahrez missed his country’s World Cup qualifying 3-1 defeat to Zambia on Saturday as a result.
Arsenal have also been linked with him as were Italian giants Roma.
The Serie A outfit are believed to have been the only club to have lodged a serious bid for the 2016 PFA Player of the Year.
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