Ranieri urges Mahrez to stay put

Majestic forward Riyad Mahrez is attracting several admiring glances, but Leicester City boss Claudio Ranieri believes he will become a better player by staying with the champions.

The PFA Player of the Year, who scored 17 Premier League goals last term and registered 12 assists, is wanted by Arsenal.

Midfielder N’Golo Kante was persuaded to join Chelsea from Leicester earlier this summer, but striker Jamie Vardy rejected the chance to move to Arsenal after a release clause in his contract was triggered.

Ranieri believes Mahrez is best served following Vardy’s lead and enjoying a season of Champions League football at the King Power Stadium, before reassessing his options in 12 months time.

Jamie Vardy (right) celebrates with Riyad Mahrez (Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images)

“I speak often with him and say ‘stay with us, it’s much better for your future’,” Ranieri said.

“I think he is an intelligent man and he will stay.

“We support him very well, this is important, when you change teams maybe you don’t find team-mates who help you at the same level.

“He improves more if he stays with us for another year, maybe next year he can think about another solution.

“If he goes for a lot of money, everybody will be expecting something special.

“He can do something special, but with us.”