What were Riyad Mahrez and Islam Slimani doing at the Emirates Stadium?
Leicester City duo Riyad Mahrez and Islam Slimani were both present at the Emirates Stadium for Arsenal’s Carabao Cup semi-final (second leg) on Wednesday – but what were they doing there?
Islam Slimani caused an internet meltdown the other night with an Instagram post that had him and his teammate Riyad Mahrez at the home of the Gunners, leading many a few to believe that something is cooking behind closed doors.
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Claude Puel, however, has restored the normal order in emphatic fashion, giving a somewhat Arsene Wenger-like reply when asked as to what was the Algerian duo doing at the league cup semi-final.
In what was one of his finest off-field moments as Leicester City boss, here’s the rejoinder that the Frenchman came up with while adding that there is no development whatsoever as far as Slimani and Mahrez’s reported transfers are concerned:
"“I think at the end of January I will be happy and this question will be finished,” Puel said.“I asked them to go and watch the game against Chelsea to make a scouting report. They were good scouts.“It is always the same thing. There is nothing to say about Mahrez or Slim, or any players. There are no moves out of the squad at the moment but we will see at the end of the month.“It will be interesting to strengthen the team if we can. If it is not possible, I am happy with this squad. They have good attitude and good quality.”"
Regardless of what Claude Puel says, Riyad Mahrez and Islam Slimani’s presence at the Emirates Stadium is going to raise a few eyebrows, mainly because one of them has been heavily linked to Chelsea and the other is a target for both Arsenal and the Blues.
It may as well be a coincidence and the two could have been there to simply enjoy a footballing spectacle that the London derby promised to be, but in the transfer window, such coincidences can generally mean something else – mostly a transfer. Well, we shall see.
Next: FA Cup: Will Leicester City Vs Peterborough United be televised?
As we approach the Deadline Day, there could still be a lot of action left to be seen at the King Power Stadium, given just how many names at Leicester City are currently dominating the transfer window rumours.