Leicester players issue warning to Riyad Mahrez

Andy King says he cannot understand Riyad Mahrez’s desire to leave Leicester and revealed “he will get dug out” if he fails to give 100 per cent.

King, Leicester’s longest-serving player, says it has been made it clear to Mahrez by the Leicester squad that they will not accept a lack of commitment from the winger.

A bid from Roma has been turned sown for the 26-year-old, who has issued a statement saying he wishes to move on from the King Power Stadium this summer.

King though admitted Mahrez has shown no signs of quitting on the job as Leicester build-up for the new season in Asia with the Algerian scoring in Wednesday’s Premier League Asia Trophy match with West Brom.

Mahrez produced an impressive display and scored City’s equaliser in Hong Kong as he uses the tour to showcase his talents.

But King has warned Mahrez he cannot let his team-mates down and he is still a Leicester player until the club accept an offer for the Tottenham and Arsenal target.

“The atmosphere has been good,” King told the Leicester Mercury. “Riyad is aware as anyone that if no one comes in, then he is a Leicester City player. The boys have been saying that to him.

“We are a tight-knit group and we work hard. A lot of us have been together now for a long period of time and we are not going to let anyone down tools and think that is all right.

“He knows the way we work and if he isn’t going to put it in for the team, then he will get dug out for that.

“But it is full credit to him, everyone can see he is an outstanding player and he showed that again with a number of great chances created, and he scored.”

King says he cannot understand Mahrez wanting to leave the 2015/16 Premier League champions

“I wouldn’t say there is a degree of understanding,” added 28-year-old King. “It is hard for me to say that and it wouldn’t go down well. I would never say things like that.

“But for him, he is ambitious and he wants to play at the highest level. If he sees himself in the Champions League, then so be it.

“But he has to wait for the bids to come in, and if they don’t, then he has to understand he is a Leicester player.

“You can see he is working hard to try to do that.”