Roma are reportedly staying in close contract with Leicester City and are still monitoring Riyad Mahrez’s situation.
Despite Roma allegedly dropping interest in Mahrez recently, they’re reportedly still keeping an eye on the situation.
In fact, according to Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport [via InsideFutbol], Roma sporting director Monchi has been keeping in constant contact with the Foxes.
The Serie A side are said to be rather keen on the 26-year-old and while they’re unwilling to meet Leicester’s €35m valuation, they’re supposedly trying to satisfy the Foxes by offering bonuses along the way.
Although Monchi recently insisted that there has been no deal agreed between Roma and Leicester, Mahrez publicly encouraged his current club to open negotiations with the Italians.
“The situation with Mahrez has not changed,” Monchi said.
“I would like to say a couple of things, though. A club like Roma, who can boast the calibre of players like [Lorenzo] Pellegrini, [Kevin] Strootman, [Radja] Nainggolan, [Edin] Dzeko, [Federico] Fazio or [Aleksandar] Kolarov, cannot think that their overall performance is going to depend on the arrival of just one specific right-winger.
“The guarantee comes from the route you are on and the group you have.
“The second message I wanted to give is that I don’t know if Mahrez or somebody else will come but, whoever arrives, he will be a big player who is able to add quality to an already magnificent squad.”
The Algeria international has made no secret of the fact that he wants to leave this summer. And although this was initially made clear when Arsenal were heavily linked with a move for him, it seems he just wants any move away from Leicester right now.
The Gunners were said to want to sign the Foxes’ 2015/16 player of the season earlier in the summer. However, just like Roma, they were supposedly unwilling to meet Leicester’s valuation and have since allegedly shifted all their focus onto Monaco winger, Thomas Lemar.
Arsenal are still said to be in negotiations with the Ligue 1 club over signing the 21-year-old.