Arsene Wenger insists Arsenal have not bid for wantaway Leicester star Riyad Mahrez but hinted the Gunners could reignite their interest in the former PFA Player of the Year this summer.
Mahrez turned down the chance to join Arsenal last summer to stay at Leicester after playing a key part in their shock Premier League title success.
However, 12 months on and the Algeria international has now told the club he wants to leave and Arsenal and Monaco have already been heavily linked with a move for his signature.
Reports of a summer switch to Arsenal are now expected to intensify after Wenger suggested he could firm up his interest in Mahrez in the coming months.
“We have not made a bid for him but personally I like the player yes,” Wenger told BeIN Sports, via Get French Football. “I think he had a huge impact at Leicester when they won the Championsho.
“Like everybody at Leicester certainly a more difficult season this year but it doesn’t take anything away from his qualities. Have we made a bid for him? No. Not yet.. No we have not. Not yet means it can happen it can not happen.”
Arsenal are expected to engage in one of the busiest summers in the club's history after missing out on the top four for the first time in Wenger’s 21 years at the club and the Gunners have already failed with a stunning €100m bid for Monaco superstar Kylian Mbappe.
Mahrez, who was named PFA Player of the Year last year, struggled to rediscover the same level of performances this season that helped Leicester win the Premier League two years ago but he did at least savour his best games for the club’s Champions League campaign that culminated in the quarter-finals.
In fact, Mahrez scored four goals in nine appearances in Europe’s elite competition compared to just six goals in 36 appearances in the Premier League.
For more stats on Riyad Mahrez, click here to visit his WhoScored player page
