Claude Puel helped Leicester City find some consistency in the second half of the previous season, as he helped them to a place in the top half of the table. But the Foxes, who tasted Champions League football not so long ago, will be eager to get back to European football next season, and the manager is busy in the transfer market, to try and add quality to the squad, that can help them compete with the best next season.
However, they are in danger of losing one of their top stars in Riyad Mahrez this summer. The Algerian winger, who was the PFA Player of the Year for helping Leicester City to the league title in 2016, has been linked with an exit extensively since the last summer.
The likes of Arsenal and Liverpool were desperate for his signature but it looked like Manchester City would steal him away, earlier this year in January. Mahrez put in a transfer request to be sold to City in the winter transfer window but Leicester were reluctant to sell. However, City never gave up, and it was understood that they struck a deal with the Foxes for a move this summer.
The English champions are ready to pay up to £75m for Mahrez, but it is now reported that the deal has hit a snag over a few demands from the player himself. The 27-year old is one of the first names on the team sheet for the Foxes but will only be a squad player at Etihad. And reports suggest that he now wants a part of the £75m transfer fee, as compensation.
Leicester, naturally agitated with his antics in January, are not ready to offer him anything, which has held up his move to Manchester City. Is this a boost for the Foxes?
At 27, Mahrez can still improve as a footballer an is a genuine match winner on his day. He is a huge loss for Claude Puel but the manager has already signed James Maddison and is looking at Mohamed Elyounoussi as a replacement for Mahrez. He is valued at just over £8m and will also give Leicester an opportunity to improve other areas of the squad.
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Mahrez believes joining Pep Guardiola is a step in the right direction and Leicester should not stand in his way. He will fetch a huge profit, which will only help them this summer and it is best for all parties that this deal goes through before the start of the season, leaving no one unhappy.
