Reports in France: £35m Bid Tabled by Arsenal

Arsenal have tabled a bid of £35m for the brilliant winger Riyad Mahrez according to respected French media outlet L’Equipe.

BBC writes:

Arsenal have made an improved bid of £35m for Leicester City winger Riyad Mahrez, having had a £30m offer for the 25-year-old turned down. (L’Equipe)

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has always had a penchant for playmakers and Mahrez was The Premier League Player of the year in 2015/16 with 18 goals and a similar number of assists from out wide.

While many Arsenal fans will opine that this is not what the club needs right now – the priority should surely be the injury hit centre of defence and the striking position – it would be difficult not to be excited by the wonderful talents of Mahrez.

Perhaps the strategy of Wenger is to always buy top players when they become remotely gettable, regardless of their position.

Because Arsenal have struggled to compete in the market over the last few years and there is little doubt that the 25-year-old Algerian is now a top tier talent.

With rumours abounding this week about the future of Mesut Ozil – he and Alexis Sanchez are both yet to sign new contracts – the Arsenal boss may not only be looking to this season but the longer term future of the club.

There is little doubt that Mahrez will move on next year if not this and if Arsenal can snatch him ahead of their rivals then why not?

We could easily imagine a 4-2-3-1 with Sanchez and Mahrez either side of Ozil in a wonderful supporting cast for the number 9. And if Arsenal can bring a top striker in too, they will be flying.

But, as usual with Arsene Wenger and The Gunners, there are too many ifs and buts.