James Maddison In Arteta's wishlist

Gunners targeting Foxes superstar

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has identified Leicester City playmaker James Maddison as his top transfer target for the summer, Football Insider reports.

Maddison, 23, is currently under contract until 2023 with the Foxes and is said to be locked in talks over a new deal with Brendan Rodgers' side.

With Arsenal now joining both Manchester clubs in being credited with an interest in the England international, however, a move to a historically bigger club may be appealing.

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Slimani Could Leave Leicester - Puel

The club's £29 million record signing has failed to establish himself at the King Power Stadium, making just 23 starts across all competitions in the 18 months since he made the move from CP Sporting.

With Jamie Vardy, Shinji Okazaki, Kelechi Iheanacho and Ahmed Musa also competing for the lone role up front, Puel feels that Slimani may need to look elsewhere for regular game time.

Besiktas are reportedly interested in the Algeria international, who has scored only once in 12 Premier League outings this term and 13 in total for the Foxes.

"For Slimani, I cannot give all the ties about an individual player," the French coach said.

"I repeat, that since the beginning, that we have a lot of strikers. We need to make a good balance for the team, to give game time for all the players.

"We will see if some players can win some game time at other clubs but we have to discuss with these players."

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Iheanacho Brimming With Confidence After FA Cup Brace

The Nigeria international's standout performance in the FA Cup against Fleetwood Town on Tuesday night saw him score a brace in the 2-0 win to earn Leicester a place in the fourth round of the famous competition.

The 21-year-old is yet to find the back of the net in the Premier League this season, in nine appearances, but he is brimming with confidence after his FA Cup double and is threatening to challenge Jamie Vardy for a regular spot in manager Claude Puel's starting XI.

“The first part of the season is gone and it is the second part now,” said Iheanacho, according to the Leicester Mercury. “I am happy to get the two goals and now hope to progress in the future.

“It gives me more confidence to play well, get back in the team and help them achieve great things in the future.

“As a footballer, you need to keep working hard through the bad times and the good times. You don’t need to get frustrated. Stick together and work hard every day. If the chance comes, you take it.”

He added: “I am fit now and confident. We have so many more games to come. Keep working hard, and keep playing and help the team to achieve. Fans have seen a bit of me, I hope to continue like that in the future and in the games to come.”

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I don’t Think Riyad Mahrez Would Want Arsenal Move – Dennis Wise

Riyad Mahrez would not be interested in a move to Arsenal, according to former Chelsea midfielder Dennis Wise.

The Algeria international has been linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium as a possible replacement for Alexis Sanchez, who could make a January move to Manchester City.

Wise, though, believes that there will be better options on the table for the 26-year-old than Arsene Wenger’s men, with Liverpool also following his progress.

“I don’t think Mahrez would want to go there,” he told Sky Sports.

“I think there would be other teams that Mahrez would look at and think he’s capable of going into, teams that are in a better position than Arsenal.”

Ian Wright, who stands at second in Arsenal’s all-time scoring chart behind only Thierry Henry, was of a similar opinion.

“They’re in a position now where someone like him has got to go there and really pull up trees to get Arsenal back to where they need to go,” he said, referencing the fact that the Gunners may see both Alexis and Mesut Ozil leave on Bosman deals.

“What help has he got? He’s looking at two unbelievable players who might walk out.”

While the Gunners are struggling to make the top four in the Premier League once again and were eliminated from the FA Cup by Nottingham Forest last weekend, their Carabao Cup hopes remain alive after a scoreless draw in the first leg with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.

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Hornets Hard Fought Against Foxes to End Winless Run

Watford came from behind to end a seven-game winless run and beat Leicester City 2-1 in their English Premier League clash at Vicarage Road on Boxing.

Match summary

Two late first-half goals from Riyadh Mahrez and former Leicester defender Molla Wague set up a tense second-half fixture.

However, it was a Kasper Schmeichel own-goal in the 65th minute that settled the game as Watford ended their miserable run without a win.

Full report

Watford welcomed an in-form Leicester side high on confidence after earning a point at Old Trafford with ten-men on Saturday.

The Foxes were unbeaten in seven successive away matches in the Premier League and already secured three points more on the road than in the entirety of last season.

While Marco Silva's surprise package of the season suffered four straight defeats in the league and were in danger of dropping into the bottom half of the table.

However, as displayed since Silva's arrival, the Hornets showed the fighting spirit once again that made them one of the most exciting sides in the division.

After a scrappy start to the encounter with a few clear-cut chances, the game sprung into life just before the half-time whistle.

First Mahrez netted a rare headed goal in the 37th minute after meeting a Marc Albrighton cross at the far post to beat goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes.

Then on 45 minutes, former Foxes loanee Molla Wague found a timely equaliser against Claude Puel's side. The Mali international defender who was earning his first start of the season, scored a simple tap-in from close range as the visitors made a hash of clearing a defensive corner.

Exciting forward Richarlison nearly put the home side ahead before the end of the half, but his fierce effort shuddered off the post with Schmeichel beaten.

And in the second-half, Abdoulaye Doucoure, who was having a poor game by his standards, forced a winner to end his side's barren run.

Tom Cleverley's free-kick deep from midfield found the Frenchman at the back-post and somehow he managed to head the ball into the area from the tightest of angles - before ricocheting into the net off Schmeichel's body.

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Riyad Mahrez Tell Club That He Wants to Leave

Riyad Mahrez, one of the inspirations behind Leicester City's fairytale Premier League title triumph, has told the club he wants to leave, he said in a statement released on Tuesday.

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United Humiliated by Newly Promoted Leicester City

Manchester United's defensive frailties were laid bare in embarrassing fashion as Leicester romped to a 5-3 win over Louis van Gaal's shellshocked side at the King Power Stadium.

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