Arsenal News, Leicester City forward Riyad Mahrez confirms Arsenal approach.
Leicester City forward Riyad Mahrez has confirmed Arsenal tried to sign him last summer but the Premier League champions refused to sell.
Mahrez, who was a key component in Leicester's march to the title last season, was continually linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium during the transfer window but a move never materialised.
However, the Algeria international has revealed there was an approach from Arsenal but he refused to force through a move with Claudio Ranieri determined to keep him at the King Power Stadium.
"There was contact with Arsenal," Mahrez told Canal Football Club.
"But Leicester wanted to keep me and I was pretty expensive.
"I did not want to create a conflict when the offer came in."Mahrez eventually drew a line under the speculation surrounding his future by signing a new contract with Leicester, tying him to the club until 2020.
The 25-year-old, who was named PFA Player of the Year last season, has so far failed to live up to the heights of last season, scoring once in seven appearances in the Premier League.
Mahrez has scored just once in seven Premier League appearances this season
Mahrez has scored just once in seven Premier League appearances this season
And Mahrez, who scored 17 goals in the league last season, insists he has to prove himself once again after opting to stay with Leicester.
"Personally, I think it is a good thing I stayed put," Mahrez added.
"It's now up to me to prove myself again."
Arsene Wenger says an Englishman should manage England
The Frenchman, who turns 67 at the end of October, is in the final season of his current Arsenal contract, having earlier this month marked 20 years in the job.
Wenger suggested last week that it was possible he could "one day" manage England if he had no club commitments, but he has now played down his interest in taking charge."It is very important [that the manager is an Englishman],
I have always said that," Wenger told beIN Sports.
"A country like England, with a huge football passion... and as well the structure of the national team [it] looks to me [that it] demands a guy from your own nation is the leader."If you think that tomorrow you are the coach of France and you play against England, when the national anthem is played of England, you cannot sing it and you cannot sing as well the anthem of the team you are leading.
"It looks to me a bit strange, that is why I like what is logical.... I think it is better [to have an Englishman]."England U21 boss Gareth Southgate has stepped up to take charge of the senior team for the next four games, although FA chief executive Martin Glenn says Wenger would be among the candidates who "perfectly" fit the criteria as the search begins for the permanent successor to Sam Allardyce.
Wenger, though, says he has yet to hear from anyone at the FA over the vacancy.
"There has been no contact," he said. "There is nothing really to add. Personally I want
England to do well."
Transfer Centre
The latest news as AC Milan reportedly plot an audacious double swoop for Chelsea duo Cesc Fabregas and Michy Batshuayi in January.
'ZLATAN IS A WINNER'
Marcus Rashford believes Manchester United's young players can learn a lot from Zlatan Ibrahimovic's winning mentality.
"It has been amazing," said the young striker. "We've got a lot of world-class players in the team, especially in the forwards like Zlatan and Wayne. For the young lads, we can't ask for anything better.
"The likes of me, Anthony and Jesse - watching these forwards play and how they train, their mentality, is so important.
"You can't ask for more. Zlatan is very easy to speak to and he's easy to get along with. The way he approaches every game is about winning.
" CARDIFF CONFIRM HOILETT CAPTURE
The Canada international has previously played under new boss Neil Warnock at QPR, and played 112 times for the west London side
WOULD GRIEZMANN SUIT CHELSEA, UNITED?
Would Atletico Madrid superstar Antoine Griezmann be a good match for Chelsea or Manchester United?
And how does the Frenchman shape up compared to the likes of Eden Hazard and compatriot Anthony Martial?
Our friends over at Football Whispers survey the scene ahead of what would be a sensational transfer...
NEW DEAL FOR FOSU-MENSAH?
Timothy Fosu-Mensah has agreed a new four-year contract at Manchester United, according to ESPN.
The deal is expected to be finalised after the international break, with his current contract expiring at the end of the season.
MAHREZ CONFIRMS ARSENAL APPROACH
Leicester City forward Riyad Mahrez has confirmed Arsenal tried to sign him last summer but the Premier League champions refused to sell.
"There was contact with Arsenal," Mahrez told Canal Football. "But Leicester wanted to keep me and I was pretty expensive. I did not want to create a conflict when the offer came in.
"Personally, I think it is a good thing I stayed put. It's now up to me to prove myself again."
VRSALJKO WANTS ATLETI STAY
Arsenal and Man City target Sime Vrsaljko insists he has no intention of leaving Atletico Madrid, despite a miserable start to life in Spain.
The Premier League duo were linked to the Croatian during the transfer window before he eventually chose the La Liga club, but has made just one league appearance and is already being talked about for a move elsewhere in January.
"I'm not thinking of leaving Atletico," he told El Mundo Deportivo. "I do not want to talk too much about my situation, of course I want to play more, but things are the way they are. It depends on me working hard and showing the coach what I'm worth."
CHELSEA EYE LAZIO WINGER
Chelsea are eyeing a move for Lazio's Felipe Anderson, according the Daily Mail.
The winger was heavily linked to a Manchester United move in the summer, with Lazio president Claudio Lotito claiming he rejected a €50m (around £45m) offer from the Old Trafford side last year.
RONALDO MUST REINVENT
Cristiano Ronaldo must reinvent himself if he wants to prolong his Real Madrid career, according to Sky Sports commentator Rob Palmer.
"Ronaldo turns 32 in February and he is now at the veteran stage of his career, but the problem is he has not quite accepted that now," he told this week's La Liga Weekly podcast.
"He still thinks he is a young man and he parades himself round the field and that does not help him.
"When he gets to the point where he accepts that he is no longer the great Cristiano Ronaldo when he was 27, 28 and scoring 55 goals a season and has to slightly reinvent himself, like Lionel Messi is having to do at the moment, then he will maybe become more acceptable to the general public.
COUTINHO BACK GABRIEL FOR PL
Philippe Coutinho has backed incoming Manchester City winger Gabriel Jesus to thrive in the Premier League.
"Gabriel is a superb player, he won't have any difficulty to adapt to England,” the Liverpool man said after Brazil's 5-0 win over Bolivia.
"He is physically strong and very agile. He has all the characteristics to succeed in the premier league. Jesus is a crack, he will be a huge hit in English football without any doubt."
SIBIDIE REVEALS GUNNERS SNUB
Monaco defender Djibril Sidibe has revealed he rejected a move to Arsenal in the summer over concerns about making the first team, before joining the Ligue 1 side from Lille in July.
"I was on the brink [of signing for Monaco] and [Arsenal] gave me a headache by making a bid at the last moment," he told Le Parisien.
"After reflecting on it, I was not certain my playing time would be guaranteed. I would have played maybe 25 games this season, including the cups. They also wanted to use me on the left whereas I want to establish myself on the right.
"I chose to stay in Ligue 1 and then leave for the Premier League next year because it is a competition that greatly appeals to me."
MANCINI FOR ENGLAND?
The Football Association are set to offer Roberto Mancini the England job until 2018, according to Quotidiano Sportivo.
The former Manchester City manager, available after leaving Inter Milan this summer, was spotted at Wembley on Saturday for England’s World Cup qualifying victory over Malta.
The FA were quick to deny his attendance had anything to do with the vacant manager’s position, which interim boss Gareth Southgate is currently filling.
However, reports in Italy suggest Mancini will be offered the role, worth £3m-a-season, with a decision expected in the coming days
LIVERPOOL’S TRANFSER TARGETS
Liverpool entered the international break just two points behind league leaders Manchester City after a four-match winning streak.Jurgen Klopp's side have convincingly swept aside reigning Premier League champions Leicester City, Arsenal and Chelsea as well as taking a point off an undefeated Tottenham side at White Hart Lane.
However, there are still the same concerns over Liverpool's inability to keep a clean sheet, something which will undoubtedly hinder a title challenge. The Reds have conceded the most goals in the league's top 10 and are on course to concede over 50 goals this season.
Liverpool resisted the urge to dip into the January transfer market last season but if their form continues and they are still in the title picture after the busy Christmas period, Klopp may use the window to bring in reinforcements.
With the help of our friends at Football Whispers, whose unique algorithm tracks the likelihood of deals being done.
SIDIBE REVEALS ARSENAL SNUB
France defender Djibril Sidibe turned down Arsenal this summer fearing he would not play regularly - but has targeted a move to England next season.
The 24-year-old joined Monaco on a five-year deal from Lille in July, but only after the Gunners failed with a late bid.
"I was on the brink (of signing for Monaco) and (Arsenal) gave me a headache by making a bid at the last moment," Sidibe told Le Parisien.
"After reflecting on it, I was not certain my playing time would be guaranteed.
"I would have played maybe 25 games this season, including the cups. They also wanted to use me on the left whereas I want to establish myself on the right.
"I chose to stay in Ligue 1 and then leave for the Premier League next year because it is a competition that greatly appeals to me."
THE HOTTEST WHISPERS RIGHT NOW
Here are the top 10 hottest whispers right now, according to our friends at Football Whispers.
Football Whispers uses a unique algorithm to rank transfer rumours out of five based on the likelihood they’ll really happen.
So if you’re looking to see who your team’s next big signing is or which manager is the frontrunner in the race to sign on, Football Whispers has it all.
Source by....http://www.skysports.com/arsenal-news
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