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LONDON. — Arsenal retain an interest in Leicester City winger Riyad Mahrez but have yet to make an offer. Reports in France on Saturday claimed a £41.8million deal was imminent after the 25-year-old’s agent Kamel Bengougam spoke to Arsenal following their friendly against Lens on Friday night. However, Bengougam confirmed he was at Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Lens but denied such a deal is in place. He was there to watch another client 18-year-old Jean-Ricner Bellegarde.

Arsenal are lining up a £75million double deal that would bring Mahrez and Alexandre Lacazette to the Emirates. Manager Arsene Wenger wants to bolster his attack after a lack of goals cost his team dearly in last season’s battle to be champions.

The Gunners eventually finished as runners-up to Mahrez’s Leicester, and now Wenger wants to ensure they make a sustained challenge for their first Premier League title since 2004 this season.

Winger Mahrez, voted Player of the Year by footballers’ union the PFA last season, and Lyon striker Lacazette are top of Wenger’s wanted list. Mahrez – who has three years left on his contract with the new champions – would cost around £35m.

The Algeria international was on Spanish champions Barcelona’s radar this summer, but it is thought he would prefer to stay in England. Mahrez gave a timely reminder of his class with a stunning goal as the Foxes claimed a penalty shoot-out victory over Celtic in the International Champions Cup on Saturday.

But Leicester chief Claudio Ranieri once again insisted that Mahrez will be staying with the English champions, despite interest from Arsenal in the £40million-rated winger. The Algerian star, PFA player of the year in England after his part in Leicester’s fairytale title success, bewitched the Hoops defence before curling a breathtaking effort past Craig Gordon, just two minutes into the second half.

The Foxes had travelled north with more questions over the head of star man Mahrez. But he left the field as man of the match, having bamboozled the Celtic defence with his quality, scoring a sublime left-footed effort which left Gordon grasping at thin air. — Daily Mail-The Mirror.