LEICESTER boss Claude Puel believes Riyad Mahrez could be worth more than £100m by the summer.
The Foxes are determined to keep the Algerian this month despite his public request to leave before the season.
And Puel reckons his value could rocket again at the end of the season after his form picked up following the Frenchman’s arrival in October.
Fees have soared again this month with Liverpool selling Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona for £142m and buying Virgil van Dijk for £75m.
Asked whether Mahrez is now in the £100m bracket, Puel said: “Perhaps, in the summer he will cost even more than £100m.”
Puel has consistently claimed Mahrez does not want to leave this month - despite reported interest from Arsenal and Liverpool - and claims the 26-year-old is still happy with the Foxes. “It is always the same thing about Riyad, it is just rumours, noise about him and other players,” said Puel.
“We can see Riyad smiling and enjoying his football and enjoying playing with his teammates and it is the same in training
“After the training session he continues to play head tennis when I want him to keep more rest. It is perfect.
“It is speculation and we cannot respond to all the speculation without information.” Puel confirmed striker Jamie Vardy is available to face former club Fleetwood in tonight’s FA Cup third-round replay after missing the original game through injury.
But injured defender Wes Morgan and Danny Simpson are still missing.
From The Sun
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