Mahrez set for Man City move at last: Reports

LONDON: Riyad Mahrez is set to secure a move to English champions Manchester City from Leicester for a reported fee of £60 million (RM320 million) seven months after the Foxes turned down an offer from City, according to British media reports on Tuesday.
The 27-year-old Algerian international – whose performances in Leicester's astonishing title win in 2016 earned him the players player of the year award – is according to Sky Sports News due to undergo a medical at City later this week.
Mahrez – who signed from French side Le Havre for just £400,000 (RM2 million) in 2014 – sat out two matches following Leicester's demanding £80 million (RM427 million) for him after declining a £50 million (RM267 million) offer plus young winger Patrick Roberts, who is valued at £15 million (RM80 million), from City during the January transfer window.
However, both Press Association Sport and Sky Sports report that with Leicester having signed highly-rated James Maddison fron second tier Norwich City for £24 million (RM128 million) and with a month to go to the falling of the transfer window curtain they are now willing to sell him.
Leicester have allowed him extra time off since Mahrez – who has made 179 appearances for Leicester, scoring 48 times – went off on international duty for his country in June.
Mahrez along with striker Jamie Vardy and French midfielder N'Golo Kante became unlikely household names during the title winning season as Italian manager Claudio Ranieri engineered one of the greatest sporting surprises of all time.
Mahrez scored 17 goals in that campaign, and then having signed a four year contract played a major role in the club reaching the Champions League quarter finals in 2016/17 as he contributed four goals.
Serie A side AS Roma subsequently came after him last summer but were left frustrated as several offers with the highest reportedly £32 million (RM171 million) fell well short of Leicester's expectations.
Manchester City have also been linked with Napoli midfielder Jorginho with the Italy international reportedly left out of their pre-season training camp squad. — AFP