So just how desperate are Manchester City to get their hands on Riyad Mahrez? Well the Premier League leaders have now added a player into the mix to try and persuade Leicester City to sell.
Manchester City broke their transfer record yesterday when they signed Aymeric Laporte from Athletic Bilbao and just when it looked like Pep Guardiola's spending was over news broke that the Spaniard was hoping to sign Riyad Mahrez.
The Leicester City winger has been coveted ever since the Foxes won the Premier League 18 months ago. Arsenal, Barcelona and Liverpool have all been linked with moves in the past, with Liverpool rumoured to think of him as a Philippe Coutinho replacement earlier this month.
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With those talks having died down and Leicester in good form since Claude Puel joined the squad it looked like Mahrez would have to wait for the summer for any move but then came the City approach yesterday.
The league leaders reportedly have had two bids turned down in the last 24 hours but have gone for a final bid worth up to £65 million which includes a player as part of the deal:
There's no mention of who the player might be but it's highly unlikely to be anyone near the first team with Guardiola's side not having any obvious 'fringe' players to offer up.
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What seems most likely is that it could be a younger player like 18 year old Brahim Díaz. Diaz would be the perfect choice as he plays on the wing and would mean Leicester aren't as desperate to replace Mahrez.
City want Mahrez as a replacement for Leroy Sane who is out injured whilst they also missed out on their first choice attacking transfer target in Alexis Sanchez, who moved to Manchester United.
The Algerian winger handed in a transfer request at the King Power Stadium and won't play for Puel's side tonight as he attempts to force a transfer through.
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Will it happen?
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Manchester City, Football News, Riyad Mahrez, Leicester City, Premier League
