Shakespeare: No bids for Mahrez

Riyad Mahrez released a statement confirming his desire to leave Leicester City in May

Craig Shakespeare has confirmed Leicester have not received a bid for Riyad Mahrez and he expects the player to remain “fully committed” to the club.

The Leicester manager, however, does admit he was disappointed that Mahrez went public with his desire to leave the club, in the form of a statement issued to the press in May.

The Algeria international joined the Foxes from Le Havre in January 2014 and helped them secure promotion to the Premier League in the 2014/15 season.

He has consistently been linked with a transfer to Arsenal, but Shakespeare says no club has made any offer for the player’s services at this stage.

“I’m not worried,” he told Sky Sports News HQ. “Can it be disappointing when a player comes out publically? Yes.

“I think we have to look what is behind that as well, in terms of advice. We have to understand Riyad’s concerns but while he is contracted to the football club, and while we’ve had no bids for him, which we haven’t, he has to be professional and we have to be professional.

“He has to be fully committed here and I expect him to do that.”

While there have been no bids for Mahrez at this point, the transfer window remains open for almost two more months and there could be some activity before the deadline.

Shakespeare is calm about the prospect of an offer for the player and is not contemplating it unless it becomes a reality.

“We’d have to consider it,” he said. “But we don’t know the value and we don’t know the bid so until a bid comes in again it’s not worth thinking about.”