Arsenal tried to sign me but I was expensive – Mahrez

Joe Williams

Riyad Mahrez has revealed that Arsenal made “contact” in the summer over a possible transfer but Leicester weren’t prepared to sell.

The Algerian, who won the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award last season, was linked strongly linked with the Gunners over the summer transfer window but the north London club didn’t make an offer for the winger.

Instead, Mahrez signed a new deal with the Premier League champions until 2020 and he says that he wasn’t prepared to force through a move to the Emirates 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.

“Personally, I think it is a good thing I stayed put.

“It’s now up to me to prove myself again.”