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Agent denies Riyad Mahrez – Arsenal talk

Leicester City attacker Riyad Mahrez’s agent Kamel Bengougam was watching Lens vs Arsenal last night and Eurosport FR claim that it was for transfer discussions with Arsenal concerning the Algerian international.

Bengougam refused to comment on the story when he was contacted by Eurosport FR, but denied any links to Arsenal at all when speaking to Ed Aarons of The Guardian.

According to an individual contacted by Get French Football News working for another large French football media outlet, Mahrez is currently interesting “bigger clubs” than Arsenal and Bengougam was at the friendly match last night in order to take care of the transfer situation of one of his other clients, 18 year old midfielder Jeanricner Bellegarde.

However, in just recent minutes GFFN has received intelligence to suggest that Jeanricner Bellegarde does not have a transfer situation at all. The 18 year old has played just one season for the Lens youth team, impressing the current reserve team manager considerably, and he is expected to get another season with the second string side under his belt this time out.

Although he is one of the prime candidates to be in line for a professional contract in summer, Lens are unlikely to discuss such a matter until the club is further into the season.

High ranking journalist at L’Équipe Bilel Ghazi was asked about the rumours and supported his colleague at Eurosport, claiming that from what he was hearing “things were also heading in that direction,” being the Arsenal direction.

An afternoon of denials and rebuttals, but it would seem that even if Eurosport’s story has some element of truth to it, the situation is not as black and white as they make out and Mahrez is unlikely to imminently be made an Arsenal player.