Mahrez's dilemma with Leicester City continues

CAIRO – 2 February 2018: Despite the continuous attempts they have made in recent days, wealthy Manchester City failed to achieve their goal of incorporating Algerian midfielder Riyad Mahrez, who on Tuesday made the so-called “transfer request” from Leicester City, in this winter market.

Mahrez, 26, joined Leicester in 2014 and played a significant role in Leicester’s 2016 Premier League title campaign, in which they defied all expectations and won the trophy. Since then, he has been linked with a move to a plethora of European giants.

After not accepting the three previous offers, Leicester’s board of directors has remained firm and, within hours of closing the market, has rejected nothing more and nothing less than €74 million ($92.5 million) plus a Manchester City player for the North African talent, as reported by Sky Sports.

This unsuccessful move let Mahrez to miss Leicester’s training sessions for two successive days, as he, according to Sky Sports, has been left depressed by his club’s decision.

Reports from Leicester showed that the club officials had promised the Arab winger three times before that if he gave the club everything and played well, they would let him go in the transfer market. But Mahrez witnessed himself that they were deceiving him with false promises.

Last summer transfer market, many clubs, like Barcelona, Chelsea and Arsenal, approached the Algerian winger and wanted to sign him, but Leicester's board of directors put a high price for their player.

Again this winter transfer market, right after Coutinho's departure from Liverpool, Klopp wanted to fill Coutinho's place with a magical playmaker. It is reported that Klopp and Mahrez met in Dubai in an early January appointment. But everything again didn't go well because of Leicester's board.

Manchester City signed French central defender Aymeric Laporte this month after fully paying the £65 million ($92.5 million) of his release clause. They also delayed the bid for Brazilian Fred Rodrigues Santos from Shakthar Donetsk for the next summer.

Guardiola’s City has already spent £960 million in the season and a half since the Spanish coach has been on the bench.

The injuries of German winger Leroy Sane and Brazilian attacker Gabriel Jesus let Manchester City's owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al-Nahyan to reinforce his attacking line for the knockout stages of the Champions League (on February 13 will play the first leg in Basel) and the final of the Carling Cup that will take place February 25 against Arsenal.

Manchester City assured that they have currently withdrawn from the race to sign Mahrez, but they will still retry again next summer.