TEAM NEWS: Mahrez dropped by Leicester for Chelsea clash

The reigning champions have benched their best player from last season in a bid to beat the 2014-15 title winners in London

Riyad Mahrez has been dropped by Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri for the trip to Chelsea, while John Terry has only made the bench after recovering from strained ankle ligaments.

Mahrez is one of three changes to the Leicester line-up that drew 0-0 with Southampton a fortnight ago, with Danny Simpson and Islam Slimani also being benched.

Time for Conte to unshackle Kante

Claudio Ranieri has replaced the trio with right-back Luis Hernandez, left-midfielder Jeffrey Schlupp and forward Ahmed Musa.

Meanwhile Antonio Conte has resisted throwing Terry back into the mixer upon his return from fitness, sticking with David Luiz, Cesar Azpilicueta and Gary Cahill in the centre of defence.

Instead, the only change is an enforced one in attack as Pedro replaces Willian, who's on compassionate leave as his mother passed away this week.

Chelsea XI: Courtois; Moses, Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Cahill, Alonso; Kante, Matic; Hazard, Pedro; Costa.

Subs: Begovic, Aina, Terry, Chalobah, Loftus-Cheek, Batshuayi, Solanke.

More games: friv

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger hails 'outstanding' Riyad Mahrez

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has highlighted the significant threat posed by Riyad Mahrez ahead of Saturday's clash with Leicester -- but refused to confirm if he made a move to sign the PFA Player of the Year this summer.

Mahrez, 25, has recently signed a new deal with the Premier League champions after being heavily linked with a move to the Gunners.

Wenger did not discuss whether Mahrez was an Arsenal target, but was more forthcoming about the Algeria international's obvious talent after the winger provided 11 Premier League assists as well as 17 goals last season.

"I don't want to speak about individual players,'' Wenger replied when asked about a potential summer move for Mahrez. "He has been outstanding. If you look at his numbers, certainly he was in the top three in the league last year.

"If you consider the number of goals and assists he had, he had the best combination in the league.''

While Wenger has identified a new defender as his main target before the transfer window closes, a striker also remains on the agenda after the high-profile rejection from Leicester forward Jamie Vardy.

The England international, who finished last season with 24 league goals, had been mulling over an offer to join Arsenal as he linked up with the national squad at Euro 2016 but ultimately decided to remain at the King Power Stadium.

Asked if he was respectful of Vardy's decision, Wenger told BT Sport: "Of course. When you go for somebody you want him to join you but you have to respect the decision, we are all professional people.

"What matters is that once you commit somewhere you give 100 percent, that is what it is to be professional, he has decided to stay at Leicester and I respect that fully.''

Wenger has a number of selection decisions to make ahead of the trip to Leicester, with Laurent Koscielny, Mesut Ozil and Olivier Giroud all having been rested for the 4-3 loss to Liverpool following their Euro 2016 exertions.

Aaron Ramsey and Alex Iwobi must also be replaced in the starting line-up having both been forced off with injuries during the game.

Chelsea Transfer News: Latest Rumours, Signings Linked to Antonio Conte's Blues

Chelsea are leading the race to sign Leicester City midfielder N’Golo Kante ahead of the 2016/17 Premier League season.

That’s according to Matt Law of Daily Telegraph, who wrote that the France midfielder is set to ignore interest from Manchester United and Arsenal to join up with Antonio Conte at Stamford Bridge.

The likes of Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez stole the headlines for Leicester City during their remarkable surge to the Premier League title last season, but Kante was the definition of an unsung hero.

Setting up and scoring goals isn’t what the 25-year-old is on the pitch for. Instead, he strives to regain possession for his team and give other players the chance to shine.

And it’s safe to say he did it brilliantly during his debut campaign in the English top flight. Here’s a reminder of the Kante’s sterling work for Leicester:

It’s little wonder the Frenchman has been compared to a certain Claude Makelele, who essentially invented the role from which Kantehas made a name.

Chelsea have struggled to replace Makelele since he left the club in 2008, but in Kante, they could finally have their man.

It seems he’s keen on heading to the English capital too, as Law said the midfielder is set to snub a new deal at the King Power Stadium worth £100,000 per week.

Kante’s contract has a £20 million release clause inserted in it, yet the Foxes are reportedly only required to accept the highest offer over that figure.

So Conte needs to lay his cards on the table sooner rather than later, as a bidding war with other clubs could see the Frenchman’s value rise to well over £30 million.

Elsewhere, the Blues have started negotiating terms with AC Milangoalkeeper Diego Lopez, per Simon Jones of MailOnline.

Chelsea are looking for a new understudy to Thibaut Courtois, withAsmir Begovic expected to head for the Stamford Bridge exit, and Lopez looks the ideal candidate for the job.

Jones wrote that Chelsea have offered the 34-year-old a three-year deal and that Milan are keen to offload the stopper to cut their wage bill.

Chelsea’s dire display in the 2015/16 Premier League season is much behind them, and it’s an exciting time to be a Blue.

New manager Conte has proved his tactical prowess at UEFA Euro 2016 with Italy, while links to big-name players will boost fans’ hopes for next term.

Chelsea have always had a problem with strength in depth, but with the likes of Kante and Lopez possibly joining the ranks, those issues could become a thing of the past.

Disaster For Leicester As Another Star’s Release Clause Is Set To Be Met

The Leicester City exodus will begin when Jamie Vardy completes his move to Arsenal within the next day or so, and it looks like that won’t be the end of it.

The long term future of N’Golo Kanté has been in serious doubt for some time now, with the player himself extremely non-committal about the prospect of remaining at the King Power Stadium.

Kanté’s stock has risen massively since moving to the Premier League champions in a £5.7m deal last year, going on to earn a nomination for PFA Premier League Player of the Year as well as forcing his way into the international setup and, ultimately, Didier Deschamps’ Euro 2016 squad.

There seems to be a three-way battle between Arsenal, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain for the French international’s signature, with a release clause of around €25m appealing massively to the trio.

French outlet Le Parisien are today reporting that PSG will look to steal a march on the competition in the coming days and weeks, and are quite prepared to activate Kanté’s release clause in order to secure his signature.

Kanté himself has stated that his future will not be decided until after the European Championships, but he is said to be extremely open to the idea of moving back to his native France.

Leicester are already planning for life without the energetic 25 year old. Nice midfielder Nampalys Mendy was on the club’s radar last summer before they opted for Kanté, and are reportedly turning to the 23 year old once again to fill the gap in midfield.

Having been instrumental in the Leciester’s Premier League title win last season, it would be a shame to see all of Vardy, Kanté and Riyad Mahrez depart the club – especially before they have had a chance to test themselves in the Champions League – but it does look as though Claudio Ranieri is going to have a massive rebuilding job on his hands this summer.

Leicester City players make PFA Team of the Year

Four Leicester City players have been named in the PFA Team of the Year for this season.

Forward pairing Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez were both named Credit: PA wire

Forward pairing Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez have both made the cut.

The club's summer signing N'Golo Kante and captain Wes Morgan were also unveiled in the list.

Mahrez and Kante have also been nominated for the Player of the Year award, which is announced on Sunday.

PFA Player of the Year News: Leicester believe Riyad Mahrez has scooped top prize

Algerian in the frame after organisers insist he attends ceremony

LEICESTER believe Riyad Mahrez has scooped the PFA Player of the Year award to be announced this weekend.

The Premier League leaders are convinced the Algerian midfielder has won the coveted prize after they were pushed into making special arranagements to ensure he attended Sunday’s awards bash on London.

Mahrez had suggested he may not attend the black-tie ceremony at the Grosvenor Hotel because Leicester’s Premier League clash with Swansea would not finish untill just before 6pm.

But the PFA have insisted the 25-year-old turns up, fuelling believe within the King Power Stadium that their man has won.

The personal helicopter belonging to Leicester owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha is now on stand-by to fly Mahrez down to London along with fellow Foxes nominees Jamie Vardy and N’Golo Kante.

According to The Mail, the trio will be flown to the Battersea heliport before making the short dash north of the river to Park Lane for the dinner.

Leicester’s incredible form this season has already seen four of their players named in the PFA Premier League team of the year.

Mahrez, Vardy and Kante are joined in the all-star XI by captain Wes Morgan with Liecester and title challengers Tottenham both boasting four representitives each.

Riyad Mahrez for player of the year? Pat Nevin fields that one

Plus the ex-Chelsea and Everton winger talks Arsenal character and a weekend of double yellows on Off The Ball.

Pat Nevin thinks Riyad Mahrez is most deserving of winning individual awards at the end of this season as things stand.

The Algeria international has been highly influential as Leicester City have risen to the top of the Premier League, scoring the winner against Watford on Saturday, for a personal haul of 15 goals and 11 assists this season.

And ex-Chelsea and Everton winger, Pat, does not see any players rivalling Mahrez based on the 29 games so far this season.

"I'm struggling to see anyone that's jumping out. I mean Vardy obviously, he's had a good season [and] Harry Kane's coming off a good season as well. There are plenty you could start looking at, but nobody really for me jumping out," he said.  

As for a weekend with players getting needlessly sent off for double yellow cards (Milner, Mata, Coquelin and Mirallas), Pat believes James Milner and Francis Coquelin in particular "should know better" than to make unnecessary tackles when already booked.