Mahrez must remain focussed says Ranieri

Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri is concerned that the transfer speculation surrounding Riyad Mahrez may be affecting the Algerian’s performances on the Foxes’ US tour.

Mahrez has been heavily linked with a move away to Arsenal after playing a pivotal role in Leicester’s remarkable 2015/16 Premier League winning season.

“We’ll lose something of a bit of our strength (playing so far without Jamie Vardy) and Riyad… maybe he is distracted by all of these rumours and speculation. But that is also an experience for my players,” the Foxes boss stressed.

Rejecting a move to Premier League rivals Arsenal was an easy decision for  Vardy because he has “unfinished business” with the champions.

The 29-year-old, who scored 24 league goals to help Leicester win the title last season, spurned the advances of Arsenal, after the north London club had triggered a release clause in his contract, in favour of extending his stay with the Foxes.

“It’s not been put out there that I have always said the boys, the close-knit brotherhood, is unbelievable and for me, there’s a lot of unfinished business here,” Vardy told Sky Sports.

“I feel that the club is only going one way and that is forward, that’s why I want to be a part of it. It wasn’t that big (the decision) when I think about it. It was quite easy and this is where I want to be.”

Claudio Ranieri’s men, who lost 4-0 to Paris St Germain in the International Champions Cup in Los Angeles on Saturday, start their title defence with a trip to promoted Hull City on Aug. 13.

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Premier League N'Golo Kante Jamie Vardy Leicester City Riyad Mahrez International Champions Cup Claudio Ranieri

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