Manchester City close to signing Riyad Mahrez
According to a report by the BBC, Leicester City's Algerian star is set to join Pep Guardiola's City side for a fee of around 60 million pounds.
Premier League Champions Manchester City are close to signing the Leicester City's Algerian winger Riyhad Mahrez with a deal possibly completed by the end of next week, the BBC report. Napoli midfielder Jorginho looks also set to join the Citizens. The Algerian will cost around £60m while the Italian’s fee anticipated to be £42m. Other reports claim that Mahrez deal will be a £75m switch.
Mahrez leaving Leicester
The Algerian joined the Foxes from French side Le Havre in 2014, having scored 48 goals in 179 appearances since. He was named PFA Players’ Player of the Year as Leicester won the Premier League title in 2016. That same year, he also earned the CAF African Footballer of the Year award.
In January, Leicester City rejected a Manchester’s City bid for the Algerian, sparkling a dispute between the winger and the club, however, according to manager Claude Puel, Mahrez was at that time happy with the squad.
"He is happy with the squad, it (a transfer) is speculation but for me it is no problem. He is a happy player and likes to play with his team mates," claimed Puel. Seven months earlier, Mahrez had handed in a transfer request, yet he did not seal a move away from Leicester in the summer transfer window. He now seems to be destined for Pep Guardiola’s plan to strengthen the Citizens for next season’s title defense.