Leicester City have yet to receive any bids for winger Riyad Mahrez, manager Craig Shakespeare said yesterday, despite the Algerian announcing his intention to leave the Premier League club at the end of last season.
Mahrez has been linked with a move to AS Roma but the 2015/16 Premier League champions had not been contacted by the Italian side about a transfer for the 26-year-old, he said.
“Riyad stated his position very clearly,” Shakespeare told reporters in Hong Kong.
“Mine is really simple: while he is here and while we have had no bids - and we haven’t had any bids, it’s all been speculation - he has to be committed to the football club.
“And I have to say, in the two weeks he’s been back he’s been totally committed and really trained well.
“Outgoings are inevitable at any football club but until there’s a bid for your player there’s no decision to be made.”
Leicester are one of four English top flight teams in Hong Kong this week to play in the Premier League Asia Trophy.
They are due to take on West Bromwich Albion today while Crystal Palace face Liverpool in the other game at Hong Kong Stadium.
Shakespeare will be able to give new signings Harry Maguire and Vicente Iborra a run out against Tony Pulis’ side and the Leicester manager believes he has strengthened his squad after a difficult campaign last year as defending champions.
“Harry’s got Premier League experience (at Hull City) and he’s at a good age,” said Shakespeare, who replaced league-winning coach Claudio Ranieri midway through last season.
“With Iborra his pedigree speaks for itself. He’s captained Seville, he’s won European trophies and he’s settled into the group and is a quality player and that says a lot.
“I want competition for places, I think players want competition for places. We need that and thankfully the club have backed me in that as well.
“We will have targets (for the season), a lot of them will remain internal in terms of me and the players and coaching staff.
“We know the Premier League becomes harder each year, everyone invests heavily and we’re no different, but you have to be competitive.”
Riyad Mahrez
