A new update has revealed how likely it is for the in-demand Riyad Mahrez to continue his stay at Manchester City ahead of next season.
After a slow start to life at the Etihad Stadium, it’s safe to say that Riyad Mahrez has justified his £60 million fee in a Manchester City shirt over the years.
While some may have assumed that it would have been impossible for the Algerian to outdo himself after a stupendous 2020/21 campaign where he led City to their first-ever Champions League final, the tricky winger perhaps unlocked his best possible version last term.
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Surpassing his greatest ever goalscoring tally since the 2015/16 season in which he was crowned the PFA Players’ Player of the Year during Leicester City’s miraculous Premier League winning campaign, Riyad Mahrez scored 23 goals for the Sky Blues in all competitions whilst also registering nine assists in the 2021/22 season.
While the numbers suggest that Pep Guardiola’s side should be moving mountains to tie the 31-year-old to a contract extension, such has not been the case up until this point as his current deal is set to expire in the summer of 2023.
As mentioned in a recent revelation by none other than transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the four-time Premier League champion’s future in East Manchester is also reliant on fellow Manchester City forwards, Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling who also have merely a year left on their contracts.
Romano also went on to describe Gabriel Jesus’ chances of departing the club as ‘100%’ while Raheem Sterling is said to be unsure about putting pen to paper, as he assesses the proposals on the table to prise him away from Pep Guardiola’s side, which means several factors may influence Riyad Mahrez’s plans for next season.
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However, new details have emerged around how likely it is that the former Le Havre forward bids farewell to the blue side of Manchester in the summer.
As per a report by Pol Ballus of the Athletic, it is understood that Riyad Mahrez is expected to stay at Manchester City beyond the ongoing transfer window.
Interestingly, this update aligns with Fabrizio Romano’s assessment around the Algerian captain as well, as he had mentioned that an exit from the Etihad Stadium is not anticipated for the player ‘any time soon’.
While Paris Saint-Germain were previously linked with a move for Riyad Mahrez as a replacement for club legend Angel Di Maria - who departed the French capital this summer - the Italian journalist also revealed that this was ‘thought of’ as an option during sporting director Leonardo’s reign, who has recently been relieved of his duties.
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In addition, it has also been stated that there have been ‘no updates’ between both clubs which could suggest that the Ligue 1 giants may choose to address other priorities that exclude the highly-rated attacker after Luis Campos’ latest arrival
As there remains uncertainty around the futures of other forwards at Manchester City, it only makes sense for the club to ensure Riyad Mahrez sticks around during the 2022/23 season.
Featured Image Credit: PA Images / AlamyTopics: Manchester City, Riyad Mahrez, Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus, Premier League, Manchester City Transfer News & Rumours