Riyad keeps up vanishing act

RIYAD MAHREZ is again out of Leicester’s plans for their trip to Manchester City on Saturday.

The Algerian star was nowhere to be seen, missing training for the fourth time in a week, when the Leicester players returned yesterday. The squad were given the day off after their 1-1 draw with Swansea.

But Mahrez (below) is still out of the picture.

It means he has not trained for a week as the fallout from his collapsed £60m move to City on deadline day continues.

City boss Pep Guardiola was put off by Leicester’s £80m valuation while Mahrez was left ‘depressed’ at seeing his dream move hit a dead end.

With a visit to City next up and Mahrez being told to clear his head by boss Claude Puel, he looks to have no chance of playing any part at the Etihad.

Foxes chiefs are trying to negotiate an end to the tricky stand-off in the hope of getting Mahrez reintegrated with his team-mates on his return.

The ex-Le Havre man has been told there is a way back for him at Leicester and Puel firmly believes the 26-year-old’s fractured relationship with the club is not beyond repair.

He tried to force through the move to City, who made a fourth and final offer of £60m on deadline day which was rejected, and later slapped in a transfer request. He risks landing a huge two-week £200,000 fine but the club appear to be trying to handle the matter with care.