Claude Puel wants Riyad Mahrez to remain at Leicester amid persistent Arsenal links.

A transfer window is coming up, and that means a whole new batch of Riyad Mahrez stories. Isn’t that exciting?

The Algerian winger has been linked with Arsenal for two summers in a row following Leicester’s title winning season, when he won the PFA Player of the Year.

The move didn’t happen two summers ago. Nor did it happen the following year, even after he publicly announced his desire to leave Leicester for bigger and better things. At this point, you’d have to doubt how interested Arsenal actually are.

Nonetheless, the links continue, with Le Jour D’Algerie in Mahrez’s homeland, bringing them up in their sport round-up.

They carry quotes from new Leciester manager Claude Puel, who, rather understandably, wants to keep Mahrez at the club.

“It’s up to me to convince these players to say with good football,” he said. “I must attract them. It remains to be seen if this operation is likely to succeed.”

Leicester sit 11th in the Premier League table, with three wins from their opening ten games.

Mahrez has a goal and four assists to his name so far, with his form picking up in recent games.

With Leicester demanding a high price for him, it’s likely that Mahrez will need to have another stellar campaign to convince the bigger clubs he’s worth buying.