PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Riyad Mahrez – He will cost £100 million in summer

by Phumzile Ngcatshe

Thursday Jan 18, 2018. 19:00

Leicester City manager Claude Puel believes his Algerian midfielder Riyad Mahrez will cost more than £100 million in the next transfer window.

The Algerian winger has been a subject of transfer speculation in the English Premier League in the past eight months, as Liverpool and Arsenal have been linked with the player.

However, the Foxes' manager has hinted at the rise of a price tag attached to his star midfielder, as the Gunners and the Reds appear interested in a move.

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With his revival under Puel, the 26-year-old Desert Foxes international has scored seven times and assisted seven in 23 league games.

"Maybe in the summer he will cost even more than £100m,” Puel told reporters.

“It’s just rumours, noise about him. We can see Riyad smile, enjoying his football, enjoying to play with his teammates.

“After the training session he continues to play, I wanted him to stay rested, but it’s perfect.

"The good ambition for him is to continue this hard work, to show his consistency game after game, until the end of the season.

"He has come back at a good level: he is clinical, with assists, with goals, and it's important he continues this work and shows people the player he is, without the ball and with it."