Riyad Mahrez has been pictured allegedly checking into the Chelsea team hotel, which has led to many people linking him with a move to the London side from Leicester City.
The Algerian was an integral part of a Foxes side which stormed to the Premier League title last season but has been linked with a move away for much of the window.
Twitter: mahrez checking in at fc chelseas official hotel today
@BBCSport @DailyMail @ChelseaFC @Arsenal https://t.co/N9xIquW97g (@AlessandroLdn)
Twitter: @MarkEBarden i don’t want to spoil your afternoon but i met him @ chelseas official hotel where he checked in https://t.co/KTqXC0khfN (@AlessandroLdn)
The claim comes from journalism student Alessandro Schiavone, who posted a picture of Mahrez in a hotel lobby, as well as another of him with the winger, on Twitter, linking the major news outlets.
Mahrez would represent the latest signing for new Chelsea boss Antonio Conte, and a significant weakening of Claudio Ranieri’s Leicester side.
Twitter: @chelsea_hq i met this great man. thats why i was there. and mahrez arrived when I left https://t.co/7x7V05hY0Q (@AlessandroLdn)
The same student has also posted a picture of himself with Conte as verification that the photo of Mahrez is him checking into Chelsea’s hotel. In the photo with the winger and the manager, Schiavone is wearing the same clothes, adding legitimacy to the claim.
Mahrez surprised everyone with his league form last year, scoring 17 goals in 37 games as he helped guide Leicester to their first ever title win, capitalising on the poor form of most of the other top sides.
The Foxes have already lost one of the key men from that side, N’Golo Kante, to Chelsea in a £32 million deal and would not want to lose another.
