The newest addition to the reports on Riyad Mahrez’s potential move from Leicester City to Manchester City has suggested that the Foxes are seeking close to an amount of £75m for their Algerian winger. The reports suggest that Leicester are seeking a basic compensation of £60m which will rise to £75m with add-ons.
The news comes as no surprise to the football world after Leicester’s rigid stance on the player back in the January transfer window. Back in the winter window, Alexis Sanchez was all set to join the Citizens but had a last-minute change in heart and left City hanging. The situation worsened for Pep Guardiola as the month end approached with his star player Leroy Sane getting injured.
Guardiola was naturally left short of options in the squad and turned to Leicester City winger Riyad Mahrez. The Algerian is 27 years old and at the peak of his footballing career. Mahrez had been angling for a move away from the club for a very long time but the Foxes proved to be tricky customers and blocked the move of Mahrez on multiple occasions.
When City approached them for Mahrez with just a few days left of the winter transfer window with a decent offer of £60m, Leicester refused it flat out and demanded a whopping £90m. The price obviously baulked the City officials who refused to pay that much and Mahrez was left disappointed at the King Power Stadium.
It now seems that Manchester City are not ready to give up on Mahrez and will use the lengthy summer transfer window to get their man. They are after Mahrez as Guardiola clearly sees him as the best addition upfront. Mahrez, for his part, will definitely want to see the transfer go through and get the opportunity to play for the reigning Premier League champions and be a part of European night football at the Etihad.
Read More: Manchester City Favourites To Sign This Dutch Defensive Star: Do They Really Need Him?
However, Leicester are more than determined to squeeze out the maximum value for their star man and Mahrez’s move might just prove to be the most expensive signing City have made in their history. Should Mahrez join the team, he will be an ideal squad player playing back-up to Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling. The situation would be perfect for Guardiola to have someone like Mahrez playing the third choice but for the Algerian, he may soon get frustrated of the bench role after having starred for Leicester for the last few years in the first team.
