Pep Guardiola revives interest in signing Riyad Mahrez from Leicester • Mahrez almost joined Manchester City in January • Guardiola also keen to sign Napoli midfielder Jorginho
Pep Guardiola has revived his interest in Riyad Mahrez, with Manchester City’s manager having continued to monitor the Leicester forward following the breakdown of a prospective deal in January. Mahrez saw a move to the Etihad Stadium collapse during the winter transfer window after the 2016 Premier League champions stated it would take a “mind-blowing offer” from City to prise him away. City were quoted a package worth around £95m, while they themselves valued the 27-year-old closer to £60m. While no formal offer was made for Mahrez, who is contracted until 2020, informal discussions between City’s chief executive, Ferran Soriano, and his opposite number, Susan Whelan, did occur.
Manchester City ultimately walked away from the deal, leading to a furious and upset Mahrez effectively going on strike by failing to report for training for the next two weeks. He also handed in a formal transfer request in a bid to force through a move. That was withdrawn but there is little doubt that Mahrez would still be keen to join City were they to make another approach for him this summer.
Guardiola is also intent on signing a midfielder to replace Yaya Touré following his departure from City. Napoli’s Jorginho is the manager’s principal target and it is believed he is closing in on a deal for the 26-year-old, who is valued at ?60m (£52.5m) by his current employers.
Manchester City are in fresh talks with Leicester City about signing Algeria playmaker Riyad Mahrez as Pep Guardiola bids to strengthen his formidable attacking options this summer.
The Premier League champions backed out of a move for Mahrez in January after refusing to meet Leicester City’s demands for a package worth around £90 million but they have maintained their interest and remain hopeful of striking a deal.
Mahrez, who had submitted a transfer request in January in a bid to force through a move, disappeared for nine days but later denied that he had gone Awol after failing to turn up for training.
The 2016 PFA Player of the Year, who was central to Leicester’s extraordinary title success two years ago, is valued at around £60 million although Leicester are also understood to want City’s Patrick Roberts, the forward who has spent the past 18 months on loan at Celtic, in return.
Negotiations for Mahrez are continuing but there have been reports of a deal being delayed by intermediary demands.
Manchester City will have to pay Leicester in region of £75m for Mahrez Considerable add-ons will supplement basic fee of £60m Guardiola turned to Mahrez after Sanchez joined United
Manchester City will have to pay a basic fee of £60m for Riyad Mahrez, with Leicester City also to demand considerable add-ons which could push the final price closer to £75m for the 27-year-old.
The total would still be closer to the champions’ own valuation and is considerably lower than the total package of £95m demanded by the 2016 title-winners in January. That resulted in the Manchester club walking away, with the hierarchy believing the demand to be particularly unrealistic.
Guardiola turned to Mahrez after Alexis Sanchez joined Manchester United in January and remains interested in adding the wide forward to bolster this area of his squad.
In the winter window City never made a formal offer for the 27-year-old, who is under contract until 2020, though informal discussions between City’s chief executive, Ferran Soriano, and his opposite number, Susan Whelan, did take place.
Mahrez to City could be done within days. Fee expected to be around £60m - straight cash, with add ons.
羅力亞
2018-05-30 19:54
機會來了飛雲
羅力亞
2018-05-31 08:18
Man City manager Pep Guardiola to make first summer signing within days Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola wants to get his transfer business completed as early as possible and is closing in on his first deal.
Manchester City are set to complete the club record signing of Riyad Mahrez within days.
The Premier League champions are closing in on the Leicester winger in a deal worth around £60m.
Talks have progressed between the clubs since City walked away from a deal in January. Leicester’s asking price of £90m prompted Ferran Soriano and Txiki Begiristain to pull out of negotiations - but they have remained in contact with their counterparts at the King Power Stadium.
Sources close to the deal are confident it is now in its closing stages - with City potentially announcing their first signing of the summer by the end of this week or next.
Despite Leicester’s attempts to drive up the price of the Algerian international, the clubs are close to agreeing a fee of £60m plus add-ons.
Pep Guardiola has told chief executive Soriano and sporting director Begiristain to wrap up his transfer business early - and wants the majority of his recruitment to be concluded before the World Cup.
Guardiola is planning on including Mahrez and Italy midfielder Jorginho in his travelling squad for City’s tour of the US in July. The combined fee for the pair is expected to cost in the region of £120m.
The move for Mahrez will be a straight cash deal, despite Leicester’s attempts to include winger Patrick Roberts in a part exchange in January.
Chairman Khaldoon al Mubarak confirmed last week that the club's summer plans had been determined months ago.
“We’d made our decisions from January in terms of what this squad needs this summer, so it will be business as usual," he said.
Man City: Premier League champions close to signing Riyad Mahrez & Jorginho By Simon Stone
BBC Sport Manchester City are closing in on the double signing of Leicester winger Riyad Mahrez and Napoli midfielder Jorginho, with both deals possibly to be completed by the end of next week.
Mahrez will cost around £60m with Jorginho's fee anticipated to be £42m.
In January, City walked away from a potential deal for Mahrez because they were put off by Leicester's valuation.
It sparked a dispute between the 27-year-old and Leicester, with the player handing in a transfer request.
Algerian Mahrez joined from French side Le Havre in 2014 and has scored 48 goals in 179 appearances for the Foxes.
He was named PFA Players' Player of the Year as Leicester won the Premier League in 2016.
Italy international Jorginho, 26, signed for Napoli in 2014 and made 36 appearances for the Serie A side last season, scoring against City in the Champions League in November. Both players will be absent from this summer's World Cup after their nations failed to qualify for the tournament in Russia.
Manchester City are very close to finalising the £60m deal for #lcfc winger Riyad Mahrez. Talks still ongoing but likely to finally happen before end of the week #mcfc
羅力亞
2018-07-03 19:52
BREAKING: Sky sources: Riyad Mahrez to have medical at @ManCity this week after @LCFC accept bid in region of £60m. #SSN https://t.co/rjzHBJLslF
Riyad Mahrez poised to finally complete £60m Man City move after missing Leicester training camp
Riyad Mahrez will finally complete his £60m record move to Manchester City this week, after it emerged he is not attending Leicester’s training camp in France.
Mahrez’s protracted move to the Premier League champions is expected to go through to end a lengthy pursuit by Pep Guardiola.
Manchester City have been in negotiations for the Algeria international all summer but are close to thrashing out the final details, with a £200,000-a-week deal likely to be signed off before the weekend.
Claude Puel, the Leicester manager, is preparing for Mahrez’s exit and has left the winger at home while the squad trains in Évian-les-Bains. It is understood that Mahrez has been given permission by Leicester to stay at home and continue his own personal training programme.
Manchester City have signed Rihad Mahrez from Leicester. Done deal. ✅🔵 #MCFC #transfers #ManCity
羅力亞
2018-07-11 04:13
January 2014: #lcfc sign Riyad Mahrez for ?450,000. July 2018: #lcfc sell Riyad Mahrez to Man C for £60m. Profit: £59.6m. Not bad business... 😂
羅力亞
2018-07-11 04:13
Your new number 26!
@Mahrez22 💙 #welcomeriyad
羅力亞
2018-07-11 04:14
終於走到
羅力亞
2018-07-11 04:15
Riyad Mahrez: Manchester City sign winger from Leicester for £60m Manchester City have broken their club record to sign winger Riyad Mahrez from Leicester City for £60m.
The 27-year-old Algerian is the Blues' first signing since they won the Premier League title.
They walked away from a potential deal for Mahrez in January because they were put off by Leicester's valuation.
Mahrez handed in a transfer request but stayed at the club, scoring 12 league goals in 36 games as the Foxes finished ninth in the Premier League.
He later said he had "regrets" over the dispute, during which the Professional Footballers' Association offered to be a mediator between club and player.
City were thought to have offered £50m at the time, but the final fee exceeds the £57m they paid Atletico Madrid for defender Aymeric Laporte in January.
Mahrez joined Leicester from Le Havre for £400,000 in 2014, and was named the PFA Players' Player of the Year during their surprise Premier League triumph in 2015-16.
He scored 48 goals in 179 appearances for the Foxes.
羅力亞:January 2014: #lcfc sign Riyad Mahrez for ?450,000. July 2018: #lcfc sell Riyad Mahrez to Man C for £60m. Profit: £59.6m. Not bad business... 😂 (2018-07-11 04:13)