PFA offer assistance in ongoing dispute between Leicester and Riyad Mahrez

The Professional Footballs’ Association have offered their assistance in the ongoing dispute between Riyad Mahrez and Leicester City following the winger’s rejected move to Manchester City.

Mahrez has been absent from training since Leicester turned down City’s £65m offer for the player, and the 26-year-old is now expected to miss his third successive game when the Foxes take on Pep Guardiola’s men this weekend.

With Leicester and Mahrez’s representatives set to hold discussions about the winger’s future, the PFA has offered to mediate discussions between the two parties. Although the offer has been acknowledged by Leicester, neither the club nor Mahrez have reached out to the players’ union for aid.

PFA chief executive Gordan Taylor confirmed the organisation’s offer on Tuesday, adding that “we are ready to act if we are called in”.

“We offered our services last week to the club to try to help resolve it and I was told that they were hoping with the passage of time that it could be resolved, but I’ve not heard anything back from them since,” he said. “We are ready to act if we are called in.

“We’ve got to reconcile a difficult situation. It’s public knowledge about Manchester City wanting to take him. It didn’t take place, and there’s a fallout, which makes it difficult. You can see the problems with both sides.

“I don’t claim we can make a difference, but in the past we have made a difference when we’ve been called in to mediate and understand the situation from both sides. We can only do our best. I just feel it needs somebody from outside to deal with it.”

Leicester, however, are hoping to resolve the issue internally and are prepared to give the Algeria international time to reintegrate back into the squad.

A 'close friend' of the 26-year-old has been quoted saying the winger was depressed after the move failed to materialise. Mahrez’s desire to leave Leicester is common knowledge, having handed in a transfer request – his second within the space of six months – at the end of January.

Leicester dismissed Mahrez’s request, though, and stood firm in the face of City’s interest.

Manager Claude Puel has adopted a reticent stance over the saga but suggested he is willing to prepare for games without the former PFA Player of the Year.

He said: "Riyad is not my preoccupation. My preoccupation is about my available players and to keep them in a positive attitude and to continue this good work.

"My only feelings are about my available players and as for Riyad we will see later."