Leicester City boss wants to keep Algerian duo Mahrez and Slimani

by Austin Ditlhobolo

Monday Jan 08, 2018. 13:30

Leicester City manager Claude Puel says he wants to keep Algeria internationals Riyad Mahrez and Islam Slimani at the English club.

Leicester's record signing Slimani, who cost £29.7m when he arrived from Sporting Lisbon in the summer of 2016, but he has failed to establish himself at City.

Slimani could reportedly leave the English Premier League outfit during the current Transfer Window.

“This period is always a difficult period with speculation about different players," Puel said on Sky Sports News.

"I am happy with 'Slim'. We have a lot of strikers and offensive players and we need to have good balance to give them game time."

Liverpool have been linked with a move for Mahrez as a replacement for FC Barcelona-bound Philippe Coutinho but Sky sources understand the Reds are not interested in signing him.

That is fine with Puel, who is very pleased with Mahrez's form - he has scored five goals and registered four assists in his last nine league games - in recent weeks.

"I am happy with him and I think he is enjoying his football. He is happy to play with this team,” Puel continued.

"We are trying to develop good play on the floor and he likes this. He has good results with assists and goals in recent games.

"I think it is important he keeps this focus and concentration until the end of the season."