WENG NEW FOX HUNT NOW ARSENE’S GOT ACE RIYAD IN HIS SIGHTS
FAI WON’T STOP ROY TALKS
FREE TO GO: Keane
The Premier League champions successfully fought off a move from the Gunners for striker Jamie Vardy earlier this summer.
But they may find it harder to keep £45million-rated Mahrez out of the clutches of Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.
The Daily Star Sunday can reveal that Wenger has done his homework on Mahrez, 25.
He regards him as a special talent and the French-born Algerian attacker is emerging as his No.1 PAUL HETHERINGTON target. Wenger has also stressed that Arsenal are not finished i n t he t ransfer market t his summer and are “actively” involved.
Reports in France that a deal has already been agreed are understood to be premature.
But there is no doubt that Mahrez is at the top of Wenger’s wish list in the build up to the new season.
He has been on the Frenchman’s radar for some time but has now IRELAND chiefs will not block Roy Keane’s path to becoming the next Hull boss – if the Tigers make a move for the Republic’s assistant manager.
Keane is on Hull’s radar – along with Ryan Giggs, Mike Phelan, Steve McClaren and Tim Sherwood – after Steve Bruce resigned on Friday night having been angry at a lack of investment from the board.
While happy in his role as Martin O’Neill’s No.2, Keane has spoken at length about his ambitions to return to club management – having last held a top job in 2011 when Ipswich sacked him.
And while he is due to sign a new contract this established himself as one of the top talents in the Premier League.
Mahrez also interests Spanish giants Barcelona but they have just spent £42m on Valencia’s Andre Gomes. The midfielder, 22, has just helped Portugal become European champions.
Vardy, meanwhile, signed a new contract with the Foxes after the Gunners activated what, at the time, was a £20m buy-out clause in his previous deal.
And Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri has claimed that Mahrez will stay, too. But Arsenal are ready to put that stance to the test. GARRY DOYLE week, sources at the FAI have indicated that they will not kick up a fuss if Hull come knocking.
An insider said: “Roy has done a great job and the younger players in his squad look up to him. We’d hate to lose him but we’d leave it up to Roy.
“He was approached by Celtic two years ago and decided to stay and he left the Aston Villa assistant’s job because he wanted to focus solely on Ireland.
“So he has been very loyal and we’d be confident he’ll stay – but we won’t put any pressure on him.”