The internet went mental on Thursday afternoon when an Algerian website started claiming that Arsenal had a £37.5m deal agree with Leicester for Riyad Mahrez.
This was quickly followed by claims that Arsenal had an agreement in place with the player for some time before they found one with Leicester.
That’s not how these things work, folks.
Thankfully, it took no time for the internet to work its magic and show just how reliable these guys are.
A little Twitter story, just for you:
According to Algerian paper @LeButeur_Foot, Riyad Mahrez is very, very close to joining Arsenal for €44m (£37.1m). pic.twitter.com/ihc0YGG9xf
— Messi Minutes (@MessiMinutes) July 28, 2016
Le Buteur claim to have spoken to an "English journalist who is very close to the club", who gave them the info. pic.twitter.com/kbRn2Dwj0j
— Messi Minutes (@MessiMinutes) July 28, 2016
Le Buteur: Leicester have sent representatives to try and convince Mahrez to stay, but he has made up his mind. pic.twitter.com/rcs6dplmVH
— Messi Minutes (@MessiMinutes) July 28, 2016
Le Butuer: Mahrez has had a contract agreed with @Arsenal for some time already. He's not willing to reconsider. pic.twitter.com/bSvbP7XfnF
— Messi Minutes (@MessiMinutes) July 28, 2016
https://twitter.com/DasAngreifer/status/758627016639913985
https://twitter.com/DasAngreifer/status/758627259351719936
Mahrez signera dans les prochains jours à Arsenalhttps://t.co/DCQxIEJoNV
— LeButeur_Officiel (@LeButeur_Foot) July 28, 2016
No one wants a Mahrez -> Arsenal transfer more than me. But, again, I don't think this rumour's credible.
— Maher Mezahi (@mezahimaher) July 28, 2016
Algerian football expert @MezahiMaher has widely discredited the Le Buteur Arsenal – Mahrez story, for those asking about its reliability.
— Get French Football (@GFFN) July 28, 2016
This story hasn’t really moved on since last weekend when it was claimed Arsenal went in big from him, a report that stemmed from a single location (Eurosport.fr) just like this one.
The latest is that Claudio Ranieri still thinks Mahrez will stay and as I’ve said all throughout this saga, we should probably listen to him.