Ranieri admits Mahrez ‘distracted’ by Arsenal transfer speculation
Leicester City boss Claudio Ranieri has admitted that Riyad Mahrez has been distracted by the rumours surrounding his future.
Arsenal have been strongly linked with a transfer for the winger, while the Foxes are attempting to persuade him to join Jamie Vardy in rejecting a move to north London.
While Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is smirking about the possible signing, Ranieri seems rather more worried.
‘Maybe Riyad is distracted a bit by all of these rumours and speculation,’ he said.
‘It is important that he understands that he should stay with us. He has to improve his fitness and play for the team as well as last season.’
Last season, Mahrez managed 17 goals and 10 assists in 37 Premier League games, and Leicester will need him to match that if they are going to even get close to their title-winning heroics this time round.
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