Alexis Sanchez is widely reported to be on the verge of a move to league rivals Manchester City, and Riyad Mahrez could possibly come in to replace him.
The Chilean forward is into the final 12 months of his current contract in North-London, and has been strongly linked with the exit door for months, and bookmakers now have him chalked up as an odds-on shot to move to the Etihad in the coming window.
Sanchez is believed to be keen on linking up with former coach Pep Guardiola, although Gunners fans will be livid should our club agree to let him strengthen a rival.
James Rodriguez, Arda Turan and Riyad Mahrez have all been speculated as being on our wishlist this summer, although the former would likely be outside our price range.
The Algerian was strongly linked with a move to Arsenal last summer, but agreed with Leicester that he would see out the new campaign, and he has claimed that he is now free to find a new club.
Mahrez also stated that Arsenal’s interest in one that he is keen to follow up with, but he cannot do so until the club make their interest concrete by following up with an offer.
‘It’s an honour to receive compliments like this from such a big manager in world football,’ Mahrez explained.
‘But there’s a big difference between an offer and speculation, so there is nothing on the table at the moment.’
‘The chairman and I agreed that I would stay another year at the club and that he would let me leave at the end of the season.
‘I think it would be the right time for me to leave, I have experienced everything at this football club.
‘I went from the Championship to the Premier League, I stayed up with the team the next season, we won the Premier League, I won the PFA player of the year award, I played the Champions League, so we did something quite exceptional.
So for me, it would be the right time to leave. The club and I are on the same page regarding my future so we’ll see. I don’t really want to get into these things so we’ll see what the future holds for me.’
He added: ‘A number of clubs have shown their interest, even last season when I stayed at the club. I’m not here to say which club has spoken to me, even I still don’t know.
‘I’m still at Leicester City for the time being, I’m still under contract so we’ll see what happens next. If I have to go, I’ll go, but if I have to stay then I’ll stay. I should be leaving but I still don’t know where so we’ll see.’
Would Mahrez be accepted as a worthy replacement for Alexis? Could anyone really replace Sanchez?
Pat J