Riyad Mahrez Reportedly Agrees €50m Arsenal Move Despite Ranieri 'Pressure'

Reports in France claim that Riyad Mahrez has agreed a move to Arsenal this summer, just days after Claudio Ranieri had told the press that the Algerian would be going nowhere this summer. 

Eurosport FR have reported that the deal is not far away - although the 25-year-old will not come cheap for the Gunners, with a fee in the region of €50m being reported. While the fee is not yet agreed, it's said that the Foxes will not stand in Mahrez's way if - as it seems - he wants to leave. 

Info @Eurosport_FR : Riyad #Mahrez en route vers Arsenal. Les détails ici ➡https://t.co/vhCs40cinu

— Eurosport.fr (@Eurosport_FR) July 23, 2016

Mahrez's agent Kamel Bengougam refused to comment on the story when asked, but is understood to have attended Arsenal's pre-season friendly against Lens on Friday, after which Arsene Wenger told the press that the Gunners were ready to spend big if necessary to secure their targets. 

Eurosport have also claimed that Ranieri's comments earlier in the week were intended to put pressure on last season's PFA Player of the Year, the Italian saying: “Everybody here is happy and, yes, he wants to stay. No other players will go away – we will stay together. 

Riyad Mahrez has accepted an offer to join Arsenal, according to Eurosport FRhttps://t.co/6qg5EXpVhj pic.twitter.com/VvCYXdJE26

— Get French Football (@GFFN) July 23, 2016

“The football continues without Riyad or without Kanté but Riyad will stay with us for all of the years. It’s important to maintain the group, with the spirit, with the humility – that’s important for me.” 

The move would leave the Premier League champions without two of the three stars who stood out above all overs last season, after Kante's move to Chelsea last weekend. Of the trio, only Jamie Vardy remains, having signed a new four-year contract earlier this month.