Latest reports are confirming that Leicester City are ready to try and fit in a deal for Patrick Roberts besides taking cash from Manchester City in exchange for Riyad Mahrez. According to The Telegraph, the Foxes are interested in the 21-year-old winger and want to bring him in should Mahrez walk the other way.
Manchester City’s interest in Mahrez goes back a long way with City reportedly having had their bid turned down in January earlier this year. The Citizens had lost their star winger Leroy Sane for six weeks due to an injury and City boss Pep Guardiola, who already has a thin squad at City, saw it as an ideal opportunity to bring in the Algerian winger.
However, the deadline day move collapsed as Leicester played hardball and refused to accept City’s £60m offer for Mahrez. The Foxes decision to not sell Mahrez did not sit well with the winger and he reportedly went on strike for the next few days.
Things returned to normal eventually but as things stand, Mahrez could well become a City player this summer. It is now being reported that City, who are willing to pay £60m for Mahrez, will also need to part ways with their promising winger Patrick Roberts if they are to convince Leicester to sell their Algerian star.
Roberts was signed by City from Fulham for £11m and the former U-20 England international has been sent on loan since. He was farmed out to Celtic on loan for a season and a half where he has featured for the Hoops on a regular basis and became a first team player for the club.
Leicester, it would seem, wants Roberts plus £60m in cash if they are to sell Mahrez. Guardiola and Manchester City rate their young winger at around £15m meaning that the deal for Mahrez, should it involve Roberts, will cost them up to £75m.
As for Leicester City, Claude Puel’s men had a poor end to their season despite the manager beginning his stint rather brightly at Leicester. It will now be up to him to gear them up for the new season and ensure they are competitive enough to fight for a European spot rather than a top half finish.
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Losing Mahrez will definitely hurt them a lot as the Algerian is one of their key players in attack and the most creative outlet in the final third. However, with the player eager to move, it is perhaps best for all parties that they part ways. Bringing in Roberts will be a good move for the future but the young winger will not be a direct replacement for Mahrez as the shoes to fill are way too big for a player with so little Premier League experience.
