Riyad Mahrez would find himself on the bench at Arsenal, suggests Claudio Ranieri

Leicester City boss Claudio Ranieri has suggested that Riyad Mahrez may find himself on the bench if he joins Arsenal this summer. 

Reports suggest last season’s PFA Player of the Year, Mahrez, is pushing for a move to the Emirates after his agent met in Lens with Gunners officials on Friday.

Following the speculation, however, the 25-year-old winger scored as the Foxes beat Celtic on penalties in the International Champions Cup – and Ranieri stressed he is happy at the Kind Power Stadium.

‘Did you see how Riyad is happy? He played so well, worked so hard for the team, he scored a goal and he stays with us,

‘It is very important to keep him, he is one of our stars.

‘Other teams maybe have more stars and maybe he doesn’t play at the same level, because maybe he is on the bench, so it is much better he stays with me.’

It’s understood Arsene Wenger would have to offer in excess of £40million if they have any chance of signing the Algeria international ahead of the 2016/17 campaign.