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Momentum building for Mahrez move to Arsenal or Chelsea

By Rucker Haringey

LEICESTER, ENGLAND - APRIL 24: Riyad Mahrez of Leicester City celebrates as he scores their first goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Leicester City and Swansea City at The King Power Stadium on April 24, 2016 in Leicester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
LEICESTER, ENGLAND - APRIL 24: Riyad Mahrez of Leicester City celebrates as he scores their first goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Leicester City and Swansea City at The King Power Stadium on April 24, 2016 in Leicester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) /
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Arsenal and Chelsea are on high-alert after Riyad Mahrez’s latest transfer comments

Leicester City fans who are hoping and praying that Riyad Mahrez will stay with the club this summer are finding those dreams harder and harder to believe. The latest comments from the Algerian winger make it seem as if he is more likely to leave Leicester City than ever before.

This week, Mahrez openly admitted that while he’s open to staying with the Foxes, he’s undecided regarding his future. His opening of the door for a potential transfer is cause from great concern among the Leicester faithful.

While Mahrez’s latest comments have caused a great deal of consternation among the Leicester fan base, they are music to the ears of both Arsenal and Chelsea fans. Both teams have been heavily linked with Mahrez this summer and could attempt to blow Leicester away with a massive bid for the talented winger.

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Arsenal could attempt to purchase both Mahrez and teammate Jamie Vardy in the same transfer window. Such a double-swoop would arm the Gunners with one of the most intimidating attacks in the Premier League. Of course, it’s highly unlikely that Claudio Ranieri’s club would sell two stars to one Premier League rival unless it included an insanely high transfer bid. The pair might cost Arsene Wenger’s club well over 100 million pounds.

Chelsea, on the other hand, don’t seem to be interested in Vardy. They are, however, strongly involved with a transfer tug-of-war over Foxes’ midfielder N’Golo Kante. That could greatly complicate their efforts to bring Mahrez into the fold as well. Don’t be surprised if Chelsea are forced to make a choice between the tidy midfielder and the flashy attacking winger.

Before the beginning of the transfer window, most believed that Leicester City had a reasonable chance to hold on to all three of their biggest stars. The recent saga of Jamie Vardy’s deliberation over a bid from Arsenal coupled with Mahrez’s recent comments have changed the complexion of the situation greatly.

Now it seems as if Leicester stand a real chance of losing all three of their most prized stars. The only solace for Foxes fans is that their club should receive massive transfer bids for each of their stars. They will have ample transfer cash to attempt to fill the massive voids.

Related Story: Should Mahrez leave Leicester?

Riyad Mahrez clearly likes life at Leicester, but he may ultimately be stolen away from the Premier League champions this summer. His open mind regarding a potential summer switch will only embolden Premier League clubs like Chelsea and Arsenal to make strong bids for the sublime attacker.

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