Chelsea are reportedly set to challenge Arsenal for the signing of Leicester City’s Algerian ace Riyad Mahrez.
The Daily Telegraph claims that the Premier League champions have placed the 26-year-old on their shortlist. The Stamford Bridge outfit are looking for reinforcements after Eden Hazard’s injury, which looks set to keep him out for up to three months.
One potential sticking point could be a transfer fee, with Chelsea seemingly not keen to match the Foxes’ asking price of £50m.
The Algeria international also has a verbal agreement with Leicester which allows him to leave for a team in the Champions League, which works in Chelsea’s favour as they qualified as league champions, while Arsenal missed out on a top-four finish.
Mahrez recently claimed that he wanted to leave Leicester, as he wanted to test himself in the Champions League, after the Foxes’ exploits this season.
Mahrez’s preference could be for a move to Stamford Bridge after he was caught calling the Blues ‘an incredible club’.
