This is not a specific Arsenal transfer rumour as such, because there are other clubs in the Premier League, including our north London rivals Tottenham, and elsewhere in Europe, with Italy’s Serie A club Roma having already had a few bids for Riyad Mahrez turned down.
Arsenal fans will obviously hoping that it is Arsenal who the Leicester City winger is currently in transfer talks with, though. The Algerian international star looks certain to sign for someone today, as the Algerian football federation released a statement declaring that Mahrez had been given permission to leave the national squad’s training to sort out his transfer.
They wrote, “Leicester City’s Algerian international Riyad Mahrez, who is currently with the national team in Sidi Moussa to prepare for the double confrontation against Zambia for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, was authorised by the national coach Lucas Alcaraz and the Algerian Football Federation to make an express trip to Europe to formalise on Thursday his transfer to his new club.
“The national team will fly without him on Thursday morning to Lusaka to face Zambia on Saturday.”
So could it be that Arsene Wenger, after missing out on our reported top target Thomas Lemar of AS Monaco, has reacted to the club’s needs and the fans frustration by formalising his transfer interest in the 26-year old? I for one am hoping so, but am not holding my breath.
If it is not Arsenal then we can only hope that it is Roma or some other club not in the English Premier League. Fingers crossed Gooners.
Bob.