Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
PER’S ACADEMY AWARD
RIYAD MAHREZ is fuming with Leicester after fearing their £50million valuation has scuppered his move to Arsenal.
The Foxes winger is desperate to move to the Gunners after claiming he has an agreement to leave this summer.
Leicester, however, are demanding a huge fee for the 2016 PFA Player of the Year – and that has left Mahrez concerned he is being priced out of a transfer.
With Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger unwilling to meet that valuation, he has turned to £40m-rated Thomas Lemar, the 21-year-old winger who helped Monaco win the French title last season and reach the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Now unhappy Mahrez has returned to training at Leicester and been urged to show commitment to their cause.
The Algeria star announced in a public statement at the end of last season he was determined to quit the club with Barcelona another potential destination.
The 26-year-old has three years left to run on a £100,000-a-week deal signed last summer after helping the Foxes win the title.
Manager Craig Shakespeare admits he faces the challenge of trying to integrate Mahrez back into City’s squad, although he denied an agreement was struck to let him leave this year.
He said: “Ultimately, he’s contracted to the football club and has to be professional.
“We all can have a little mood swing but it’s about how long that lasts for. It applies to everybody, not just Riyad, the commitment and application has to be there.
“We haven’t had any bids and, if we don’t, we’ve got no decision to make. With making a statement like that, of course, it’s how you’re accepted by the other players.
“We have to be professional with him, but he has to be committed, and I think he has to show supporters, staff and players that.
“But knowing what he’s capable of, and the tight links he’s got within that group, they’ll be fine with him.”
It is shaping up to be a busy summer at the King Power. Shakespeare is delighted to have signed Harry Maguire from relegated Hull for £18m, and midfielder Vicente Iborra from Sevilla for £12m.
Leicester are also set to capture £25m striker Kelechi Iheanacho. They had further talks with Manchester City yesterday and now just need to finalise terms with the 20-year-old Nigerian. PER MERTESACKER will become Arsenal’s academy manager from next summer.
The announcement is the latest in a string of changes in the backroom staff as part of a shake-up by Arsene Wenger.
Luke Hobbs, doing the job on an interim basis since Andries Jonker left for Wolfsburg earlier this year, will continue until then.
Centre-back Mertesacker (right), a World Cup winner with Germany, wants one more season as a player before taking his new role.
“This is the start of an exciting new chapter for me,” said the 32-year-old.