There are reports this morning that Arsenal have had a £30m bid for Riyad Mahrez rejected by Leicester.
They emanate from a French journalist and contributor to L’Equipe TV, Gilles Favard, who posted the following:
"Le Spectre" "Marhez" Arsenal a fait une offre de 30 millions de livres refusé par Leicester !
— GillesFavard (@GillesFavard) August 10, 2016
Now, leaving aside the fact he can’t seem to spell player’s name properly, Favard has been banging the Mahrez to Arsenal drum quite regularly this summer. A couple of weeks ago on L’Equipe TV he stated that he knew ‘for sure’ that Mahrez wanted to come to the club.
He has since followed up his original Tweet with one that says Arsenal are going to increase their offer, and that Mahrez’s agent is in “Leicester” and that ‘the stand-off has begun’.
Whether that means negotiations or Leicester are going to dig in and make it difficult for the Algerian international to leave is open to question.
Speaking earlier today, Foxes boss Claudio Ranieri confirmed that there is no release clause in Mahrez’s contract and that he expects him to stay at the King Power stadium.
“He stays with us,” he said. “We wanted to keep all of our players. Of course N’Golo Kante had a clause and Chelsea paid that clause.
“Riyad does not have a clause and he stays with us.”
It is relative easy to put yourself out there as a source for transfer news, then use the vagaries of the market as an excuse when things don’t come off. Whether that’s the case here, we can’t say, but at least Favard’s being consistent with his talk of interest between Mahrez and Arsenal, so we’ll just have to see.
For now though, despite all the smoke and with Ranieri’s quotes in mind, we’re moving this to a 6 on the Poo-o-Meter.
Update: We’re going to go back with a £35m offer, apparently:
"Le Spectre" Arsenal vient de faire une offre de 35 millions de livres ! concernant "Marhez" priorité de "Wenger"
— GillesFavard (@GillesFavard) August 10, 2016
In a market in which Yannick Bolassie is going for £30m, that seems pretty far from the market value that Wenger said he was prepared to pay earlier when speaking about transfers.
That makes us more dubious than anything else.
Update: Turns out we were right to be dubious:
TRANSFER CENTRE: Arsenal have NOT bid for Riyad Mahrez – Sky sources. More here: https://t.co/b2lkr5Cr5P pic.twitter.com/WVpzLulLll
— Sky Sports PL ? (@SkySportsPL) August 10, 2016
If I had any money I’d put it on Mahrez staying at Leicester now.
Lets offer 50 million and ask them to wrap him up and deliver him right this evening.
I’m afraid we are gonna have Park Chu Yong-esque signing in the very last minutes.
Some people just want to see the world burn
Can anyone comment on reports Mahrez was seen checking into a hotel in Chelsea while Antonio Conte was also there?
Reeeeally hate to see him get signed by that lot
Mahrez would be so ridiculously good for us, I’ve got a little bit of hope that Wenger’s just playing the long game to get a better deal because it’s just such a no brainer.
@Aaron
I can confirm that it should be very clear to Mahrez that Chelsea are a pack of cunts and they don’t even have champion’s league football.
No but his mate Kante is there probably telling him to join.
That’s the first initial offer you make if you’re trying to eventually settle at around 38m to 42m it makes sense. So we go back with a 36m offer and they’ll reject it and we’ll end up at 38m 39m or finally 41.5m and done. That’s how most transfers go but in this it might get up to 42 43 probably 45m but you never go in with your first offer or second offer with the full amount you hope to agree on. Negotiation 101
I have just read that they will accept nothing less than 50m. So come on Wenger, £50m plus a £1 for old times sake. Or better yet, 40m plus Theo Walcott…
ha, the offer seems a little on the light side – even for us!
That gives me believe that we did make that bid 🙂
Do I have belief that we would get our man / match Leicester’s expectation, is a separate Q.
I’m not convinced that alexis is the answer up top for us but perhaps Arsene is and therefore is signing a replacement winger. Personally I think we needed a wide forward, a striker and a CB from this window.
Xhaka was a nice bonus really if you factor in Santi and Jack being available again (I know, Jack and available don’t usually go in the same sentence unfortunately).
I hope we get those three positions sorted but at this point every day the window stays open our rivals get stronger.
Agree but Xhaka is more than a bonus signing. This team has lacked a deep lying playmaker with defensive skills and leadership for a long time now. Xhaka is exactly what Arsenal needed. Because of injuries the CB position is more of a priority now than it was in the beginning of the summer though. Mahrez would be a bonus and as mentioned would probably mean that Alexis is played as a striker. Still not 100% conic fed that Mahrez is not just a one season wonder. Would still be good value in today’s market.
Was thinking that if Leicester drop some points before the window closes they may be more inclined to sell. But since they’re playing Hull and Swansea and we don’t have any defenders I decided to come up with a new plan.
Sounds like a plan to me Monsieur.
If we’re actually in for him then its time to deliver
Put in the 45 mil bid already!
For the love of God make another first team signing already!
Give Leicester the money they want for him. This deal should have been tied up weeks ago.
Really hard to see this Mahrez deal going through, and Arsenal would have to offer stupid money to turn Leicester’s head. They dont need the money, they are in the CL, they are PL champions, he doesnt have a release clause, and he isnt massively agitating for a move. Would Wenger offer stupid money? Well, we havent for a striker yet… and havent in years. Comeon, I love to be wrong about good things!
No fucking about, if this is true, just get it done quick. We have looked like amateurs for far too long.
Still hope Gnabry gets a chance & new deal too.
From the Sun?
*presses buzzer*
Next.
Tbf to Leicester, 30mn Pounds is a joke of a bid for Mahrez. Even Mané went for 35.
Bolasie went for 30 mil
Yeah, no shit £30 million isn’t enough. After claiming to understand the insanity of the current market, we sure as hell aren’t acting like we understand.
time to ratchet up the pressure, Arsenal style
“£30,000,001 should do it, Mr Kronke”
“Ivan, you’re a genius. Go for it”
etc
Who knows if this is true; in any case bringing a good CB is absolutely imperative right now
Has anyone got David Dein’s telephone number? He’ll know what to do to wrap up Mharez and Mustafi within 24 hours.
One of the latest tweets from Gilles Favard says we have now bid £35m. Now he says Mahrez is close to Arsenal. The shitstorm coming at him if nothing happens.
35m??? Hahahaha.
Mahrez is plan B. Madness is plan A.
Slimani anyone?
As it stands, signings are needed to try and add some balance. The squad has great chemistry and is full of players desperate for opportunities, but we need players that will challenge our star players too. Mahrez, Lacazette and Mustafi would probably do that.
What makes you say the squad has great chemistry?
30m is just embarrassing when you consider what other players are going for now! I get the feeling Arsene likes winding up clubs with piss-poor bids, offending them to the point that they won’t do business with us at any price and he has an excuse to rummage in the bargain bucket or dig out the infamous “internal solutions”…
Swap deal – Theo + a pair of boots Arteta forgot to take with him + a DVD of Bergkamp’s testimonial match and the loose change from the tips jar in the training ground canteen
That should do it
C’mon Stan, you know you need a negotiator who can play hardball. I’m ready.
I always wonder how much time it really takes to sign a player. Take Mustafi, Valencia need to sell due to FFP, and he has a £50m release clause. You call them and say: “Look, I could offer £25m but don’t want to be greedy, let’s make £30m”. They say: “Ok, thank you sir”. Boom, done deal. And we wouldn’t have to play the first game of the season at home with two teenagers.
Sooo..what are we trying to prove?
41m to Mahrez, take it or leave it.
We need a defender as well Mr Wenger!
Tried to give it 4 poops because I want to believe.. “Poop not sent” :'(
Ornstein said there’s no Arsenal interest in Mahrez and I know who I believe
Oh f them! Table 50m and bring James Rodriguez.
Don’t table. Swoop! Or some other daft transfer phrase.
No truth what so ever
Our opening offers are so insulting the selling club tell us to fuck off and then sell elsewhere
Couldn’t bring myself to poop on this story!
We’re not signing anyone. Let’s just get over it, not make signs out of frosties boxes and support who we have. No infighting, let’s just turn up and support the team. For once
I like mr handbag.
Although i think we probably will see a signing. Despite all the whinging on here.
If we’re not signing anyone, they should reduce the ticket prices.
Lol this guy writes “Le Spectre” before every tweet. What a guy ? Have no idea who he is but people on Twitter say he is not reliable
I’ve never commented as I usually just lurk around but the vibrations around the team and indeed on the blogs as well are generally erring on the negative side. I, like most of us, am generally becoming disenchanted with the manner in which the “club” handles the transfers and the players we already have, in terms of injuries and rehabilitation. We seem to have a much greater difficulty in keeping people fit as well as just getting them in the door than other clubs but that’s a different discussion. In my mind, I think it’s time we separate “club” and… Read more »
Well said that man! Sense coming from T&T
Couldn’t agree more!
Yes to the support in the stadium
No to the excuses for aw
Well said my Brother. Like we say back home Man: Win, Draw, or Lose. Arsenal all de way! One love to my Arsenal people.
How about £35,000,001? We don’t want to appear too…frugal. *gets coat*
Ffs still got 3 weeks till transfer window shuts,plenty of time to sign the 3 player’s needed (minimum) and if not, then get behind the mighty Arsenal for the coming season COYG
I’m actually pooping lava right now as I read this. Blogs, have you gone for an “augmented reality” poop rating system?
Ooh Arsenal fans… SMH.
The last I checked Mahrez was at the Chelsea training ground taking pictures.
30m, token bid by Wenger. Arsene clearly doesn’t give a shit anymore so long as he can collect his fat salary and give pretentious interviews about how he is a facilitator of the beauty in mankind or whatever narcisstic rubbish his mind is spinning up these days.
I beginning to think that it is Madness to believe in Madness….
What is Madness?
Lewandowski, Greizmann – Hard to see this happening
Icardi – Not really madness but decent
Mahrez – thinking of buying him at 30 million is Madness
Would like to see Mahrez come in & Alexis move upfront…but best case I think we will get Bony and Mustafi/Evans….been disappointed too many times before to believe in Madness…
In a world where Andy Carroll cost Liverpool £35 million five years ago Mahrez must be worth £50 million.
Why does this stupid nonsense happen every year? Everyone knows forwards tend to cost more and, although it should never have had to be viewed that way, £30 million is a pitiful sum for the PFA player of the year.
Peter Cech (GK).. Monreal (Lb), Koscielny (Cb), Gabriel (Cb), Bellerin (Rb)…. Xhaka (Cm), Coquelin (Cm)…
Ozil (Lam), Cazola (Cam), Mahrez (Ram)…. Alexis (Cf)…
I feel it’s just another play from Mahrez agent to get as much as he can from an improved agreement with Leicester 🙁
Come on Arsene, they were never going to accept 30m…
I think it’s all fake rumours. Journalists seem to be frustrated with Arsene just like some fans. He gives nothing away, on who he really wants and that create speculation. He wanted Lacazette that’s for sure and Vardy. Don’t know about Mahrez. Look like its’ the Mahrez camp who want a transfer or put pressure on Leicester for better wages for him.Get a CB it’s more urgent.
COYG!
If Mahrez doesn’t have a release clause then you are looking at a minimum of 50 million to get him, that’s the reality of the market.
Considering we have Ox, Theo (I know), Campbell, Gnabry & The Jeff who can all play right attacker/midfielder i’d be surprised if we went that high, you’d certainly have to sell one if not two of the above and I also don’t see that happening.
Whatever money we do have (and it’s a lot) should go into a quality central defender and striker, they are the pressing areas.
This is like a bird with a huge cleavage bending over to pour your drink, and Mahrez is the tittehz, and she gives you a wink and fucks off. FUCK!
The sad thing is that we will never match Man Utd etc because we have a small club mentality. Man U have been crap for 3 seasons and aren’t in the CL and yet the best players want to go there because they think big, and the can pay the money because their investments generate sponsorships and shirt sales etc. We think small and will always be small. If we drop put of the CL, we’ll turn into another Everton and be left way behind the elite.
It’ll be a miracle if we sign anybody else in this window. The kind of players we want will have to be replaced by their clubs before they agree to sell. We are only 2 or at most 3 players from maintaining a proper league title challenge. We might differ in our reasons for this being so, AW not willing to spend or the Board tacitly not backing AW with funds. However, another factor is AW’s loyalty to his current players. His faith in them restrict him from being decisive during transfer windows.
Why do we bid 30 for an attacker? It’s quite delusional to think we can sign a prime player with that little.
We didn’t, it’s all lies