Arsene Wenger has set tongues wagging by admitting that he is a fan of Riyad Mahrez and that Arsenal have ‘not yet’ placed a bid for him – ‘yet’ being the keyword.

• Mahrez has made clear his intention to leave Leicester
• Arsenal were interested last summer
• Wenger’s comments raise a number of questions

Leicester are reportedly seeking a fee of £40m for the player whom Arsenal tried to sign last summer. Mahrez opted to remain with the Foxes, signing a new deal, but there was no buy-out clause included.

The player has reportedly asked the club to lower the fee they are asking for him after revealing he wants to leave this summer in search of a new challenge.

Speaking to BeIN Sports, Wenger said, “We have not made a bid for him but personally I like the player, yes.

“’I think he had a huge impact at Leicester when they won the championship like everybody else at Leicester.

“It’s been a different season this year but it doesn’t take anything away from his qualities.

“Have we made a bid for him? No. Not yet. Not yet means it could happen, it could not happen.”

If you know Arsene, then you know that this is a very strange approach from him.

Normally it’s just flat out denials and lies about targets until they are signed. Or not, as the case may be.

Taking that into consideration, it’s hard not to see this as something of a smoke-and-mirrors approach.

What he’s really up to, who the hell knows!