LONDON • Riyad Mahrez has informed Leicester City that he wants to leave and urged club officials to honour the gentlemen's agreement that he claims he had struck last summer.

But the Foxes will seek up to £50 million (S$89.1 million) for the 26-year-old, who said that he was "fiercely ambitious" and wanted to move to a "new experience".

Leicester, who won the English Premier League title last year, are in a strong position, given that it is understood there is no release clause in the winger's £100,000-a-week contract.

Arsenal had previously been linked with the Algeria international, while Steve Walsh, who signed Mahrez for Leicester, is now employed as the director of football at Everton.

Mahrez's representatives had agreed to a new four-year contract at Leicester last year.

Mahrez released a statement in which he said that he agreed to stay at the King Power Stadium for a further 12 months last summer after talks with the chairman, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.

"I had a good discussion with the chairman last summer and we agreed at that time that I would stay for another year in order to help the club as best as I could following the transition of winning the title and in the Champions League," Mahrez said.

"However, I am fiercely ambitious and feel that now is the time to move on to a new experience.

"I've always enjoyed a good relationship with the chairman and everyone at the club, and I hope I have been able to repay the faith shown to me by my performances and commitment on the pitch during my time here."

THE TIMES, LONDON, THE GUARDIAN