AS Roma are reluctant to pay £50m for Leicester City winger Riyad Mahrez, according to podcast host and editor John Solano.

The Serie A club have been the only sideto make a serious effort to sign Mahrez this summer but have yet to bid a suitable amount. According to Solano, Roma are reluctant to meet Leicester’s £50m asking price, having failed to improve their bid from £35m.

“I don’t think they’ve been priced out, but they seem very reluctant – and I don’t know why – to go above €40m,” he said. “Only problem is all the Salah money had to go to FFP before 30 June. Most of the Rudiger/Paredes money is available.”

Mahrez wants to leave Leicester and has expressed his desire to talk with Roma but respects Leicester’s stance on the matter. For a while, it seemed only Arsenal were in for the 26-year-old, but the sale of Mohamed Salah to Liverpool prompted Roma to get involved.

Arsene Wenger has since denied an interest in the Algerian international and doesn’t seem to be preparing a late effort to sign him. An injury or late sale could change that, but for now it seems Roma are the only ones to trying to sign him.

Mahrez went through pre-season at Leicester and has played in their two Premier League games so far. His performances have suggested that he hasn’t been too distracted by the ongoing transfer saga, although that may change if interest intensifies.