Leicester City’s Harry Maguire deserves to play higher, says Riyad Mahrez

“Fiercely ambitious” Riyad Mahrez thinks that Leicester City and England star Harry Maguire deserves to play higher.

The Algerian may have only just left the King Power Stadium, but that doesn’t mean he is going to give the club any different treatment than the others.

Of course, we are aware that the city of Leicester was too big for Riyad Mahrez’s talent, but now we also know that Harry Maguire won’t fit in either – he actually won’t.

Speaking of the centre-back for the first time as Manchester City’s most expensive spectator, Mahrez said:

"“I have always believed that ‘H’ (Harry Maguire) is a very good player, he has shown that since the day he came to Leicester and the season he had last year.“It doesn’t surprise me to see how he has done at the World Cup.“Of course he deserves to play higher but Leicester are a good club as well, so it’s him who has to decide and we will see.”"

“But Leicester are a good club as well”. The comment will hardly do anything to appease the anger of the fans which the 27-year old may have upset with his comments. He isn’t wrong by any stretch of the imagination, but his timing is.

Harry Maguire is already being linked to a number of clubs, one of which are Manchester City. The Citizens have retained their interest in the former Sheffield United defender since January, and are very likely to at least once approach the club with a big offer.

This is why Mahrez’s statement would hurt more than it would have otherwise, as it sounds more of an open invitation from a man on a mission. Just the start, though.

Next: Alireza Jahanbakhsh flies in for Leicester City medical

Keeping hold of Harry Maguire is definitely going to be a challenge for Leicester City. The quality that he has been able to demonstrate on such a stage is tempting many clubs to pursue him, and we know how that can unsettle any player.