Leicester will not sell Mahrez to a Premier League rival

Leicester will only consider offers for Riyad Mahrez in the summer from foreign sides, claims ESPN.

Mahrez emerged as a shock target for Manchester City in the final two days of the January transfer window but Pep Guardiola’s side refused to match Leicester’s £95m valuation.

The Algeria international was devastated at missing out on the chance to join the Premier League champions-elect and only returned to training on Friday, more than a week after the deal collapsed.

Mahrez even handed in his second transfer request in eight months in a bid to force through a move to Guardiola’s side, leaving Leicester with a huge mess to clean up for the rest of the season.

The 26-year-old is determined to leave the former Premier League champions at the end of the season but may have to settle for a move abroad as Claude Puel’s side do not want to strengthen one of their rivals.

Roma were willing to make Mahrez the club’s most expensive player of all-time in the summer and will certainly not be willing to match the £50m offer that City tabled last month, meaning Leicester will have to settle for a smaller fee than they could command if they sold to a direct rival.

Despite failing to secure a high profile move away, Mahrez has rediscovered his best form for Leicester this season. In fact, the Algerian has already played a direct hand in six more goals (15) than he did across the whole of last season (9).