Leicester City

Claude Puel coy on Riyad Mahrez future

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 03 February 2018

Leicester City manager Claude Puel admits that the immediate future of wantaway winger Riyad Mahrez remains uncertain after he was denied a move away on deadline day.

Leicester City manager Claude Puel has insisted that he is not thinking about Riyad Mahrez coming back into the team despite his side being held to a 1-1 draw by Swansea City this afternoon.

Mahrez was once again absent from the Foxes squad at the Liberty Stadium, having gone AWOL from training since failing to push through a move away from the club on deadline day.

Leicester rejected a second transfer request from the Algerian and are understood to have demanded a deal worth £95m from Manchester City, and Puel admitted that the immediate future of Mahrez remains uncertain.

Asked when he expects to have Mahrez available again, Puel told reporters: "I expect nothing. The most important thing is not to think about one player but to think about my team and my squad.

"Today, just after the game, Riyad is not my preoccupation. My preoccupation is about my available players and to keep them in a positive attitude and to continue this good work. My only feelings are about my available players and as for Riyad we will see later.

"It is big frustration this afternoon, Swansea defended very well. We played very well, especially in the first half, against this team that has just had good results against Liverpool and Arsenal. They had just one chance in the game.

"We had quality and good combinations between the players but we missed the clinical edge. We needed another goal in the first half because this was a period of good quality and we had them under pressure. To concede the goal is harsh for the team."

Mahrez has scored nine goals and assisted seven more in 27 appearances for the Foxes across all competitions this season.