Claudio Ranieri: 'Leicester City is the best place for Riyad Mahrez'

Riyad Mahrez celebrates scoring the opening goal during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Swansea on April 24, 2016
© AFP
Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri says that Riyad Mahrez would not be the star of a team if he joined a club full of "champions".

Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri has urged Riyad Mahrez to stay at the King Power Stadium, claiming that he will not be the star if he joins another club.

The winger, who scored 17 goals in the Foxes' historic Premier League title win last season, has been linked with a move to Arsenal.

Midfielder N'Golo Kante was lured to Chelsea, but the English champions managed to convince their star striker Jamie Vardy to agree a new contract.

Despite interest in Mahrez, Ranieri has reiterated that he expects the Algerian to stay put.

"I think Mahrez for us is very important," Ranieri told ESPN. "He's our light. If he goes to another big team, there are so many lights, so many stars, why? Stay with us, it's much better. He's our champion. If he goes to another team, there are so many champions.

"He knows me, I know him very well and I understand when he plays so-so and I keep him on the pitch, maybe another manager when he plays so-so, there are so many other stars and [they'll] put him on the bench.

"For Riyad, it is important you give him confidence, but if you put him on the bench, he gets down. I think, I hope he can stay with us because it's important for us, but also it's important a lot for him."

The 25-year-old joined Leicester from Le Havre in 2014.

N'Golo Kante of Leicester looks on during the Barclays Premier League match between Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur on August 22, 2015
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2Bournemouth00000000
3Burnley00000000
4Chelsea00000000
5Crystal Palace00000000
6Everton00000000
7Hull City00000000
8Leicester CityLeicester00000000
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10Manchester CityMan City00000000
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14Stoke CityStoke00000000
15Sunderland00000000
16Swansea CitySwansea00000000
17Tottenham HotspurSpurs00000000
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19West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom00000000
20West Ham UnitedWest Ham00000000