According to a recent report from Calciomercato, Riyad Mahrez will be allowed to leave Manchester City in the summer with Paris Saint-Germain being interested in him. Pep Guardiola’s side could be banned from taking part in European competitions, and it is believed that Mahrez might look for a move somewhere else.
What Mahrez brings to City?
The Algerian winger cannot be termed as a mainstay for the Citizens, but he has often been influential whenever he has played. The 29-year-old has nine goals and 14 assists to his name this season in 37 appearances in all competitions.
Mahrez is known for his impressive dribbling skills and ability to drive the ball forward from the right. He is often direct in his approach, and his body feints and quick movement often trouble even the best of defenders. The African ace packs a good punch with his left foot, and he is a constant goal threat in the attacking third.
What should be Guardiola’s play?
Manchester City will likely have to chop and change their side, especially at the back for the next season. Then there are continuous links (Goal) of Leroy Sane leaving for Bayern Munich. Hence, it would be surprising to us if the Citizens allow Mahrez to leave the club in the summer. The club will have a lot to do in terms of recruiting new players, and they surely wouldn’t want a new headache of replacing a player of Mahrez’s calibre.
However, he is 29, and we think that a top offer from PSG could be worth considering. PSG could end up losing Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid, and they would then be in the market to sign a right-sided attacker.
Someone like Mahrez can come in and fit in seamlessly in that role. It remains to be seen how much City would demand for Mahrez.
Hence, we believe that Guardiola’s first instinct should be to keep him, especially with a player of Sane’s ability already likely to head out. However, if City can get £100m for Mahrez from PSG, then that could be a tempting offer. City can then go all out for someone like Jadon Sancho in the summer who will be a younger and long term option at the club. Therefore this transfer could likely depend on how much the French giants would look to pay for Mahrez.
