Tottenham Hotspur have been one of the most inactive clubs in the transfer market since the end of the previous season as they are yet to make a first team signing this summer. But Mauricio Pochettino is not taking it easy and is determined to improve the squad before the start of the next campaign.
This has seen him linked with a number of stars from England and also in Europe and one player who is constantly on the radar of the London club is Leicester City ace Riyad Mahrez.
The PFA Player of the Year for the 2015-16 season when the Foxes lifted the title, Mahrez, failed to replicate the form in the previous season and only managed ten goals and seven assists in 48 games across all competition for Leicester City. He was a transfer target for many a big club in England last summer but his lack of form in the last season has seen him fall out of demand this summer.
London outfit Arsenal are also reportedly interested in his signature but the £50m price tag that Leicester City have placed on the player is what is stopping both North London clubs from making a move this summer. So should Spurs try and land him this summer?
Known for his dribbling and exceptional ball retention abilities, Mahrez is a speedy winger who loves to take on his man in most areas of the field. He can easily beat his man in one-on-one situations down the flank but is more adept at cutting inside and creating chances for his side.
Though not strong in the air, he is a decent outlet in the final third and over the last couple of years; he has also learnt the art of balancing his defensive side of the game. At 26, the Algerian international has 103 Premier League appearances and 30 international appearances to his name and has established himself as an exciting prospect in England.
With Eric Lamela still not expected to start the season and the likes of Moussa Sissoko and Kevin N’Koudou not impressing the manager enough, Mahrez may even walk into the first team under Pochettino but at £50m, he is a bit too expensive.
They are also looking at AC Milan’s Suso and Everton’s Ross Barkley as other options in this role and to be honest, either option will actually add more dynamism to this Spurs squad. Mahrez is a decent player who can win games for his side but the Spurs need a more established star, who will perfectly fit into Pochettino’s system and the Algerian is just not the man for them this summer.
