Riyad Mahrez

[GaudinoMotors]

Almost impossible to answer really, as I mentioned he's priceless to this club. Look at the percentage of our goals he's involved in, how important he is to our play. The VVD signing has set the market currently, it would have to be north of that for people to not feel totally ripped off.

We already feel shafted by the fact Kante had a release clause and we knew we were losing a £60m+ player for less than £30m. That still stings the club, it taught the club some harsh lessons and they won't be bullied now. They will stand up for themselves quite strongly.

The biggest thing is the respect the owners have for Mahrez. They could very well sanction his move for less than we believe he is worth as a thank you for what he's done. They are that sort off people, so it's difficult to call exactly how it will go, but the bid would need to be fair and bidding less than what you just paid for a defender will not be seen as that.

Thanks for the reply.
Obviously I hope your owners do respect his wishes - but also that we pay a fair price.
I take what you say about the defender price comparison but we needed him probably more than we do Mahrez - not to play down how well he's suit us. We'll all know one way or the other soon.
What is our relationship like with your owners after the Iheanacho dealings?

 

[chesterbells]

Apart from Simon Stone who else has said we have put in a bid? Has it come from Leicester? It certainly hasn't' come from City. Is Mr Stone stiring it?

He wouldn't do that would he? Surely not

 

[Yates]

And Mahrez is 26 and one of the best attacking players in the premier league, proven at his level. Attacking players go for more, we don't set the market. You guys do spending £50m on defenders.

The market has actually gone the way of teams assessing how desperate you are for a certain player. City were desperate for a quick, energetic full back and had Alves down before going for Walker but once Alves went to PSG, Spurs played hard ball and pushed the price up again. Liverpool had it with Van Dijk, desperate for a top CB and paid what was required. As I've already replied to you, no team, who can afford or would even consider what Leicester want desperately need him.

 

[remember arthur mann]

Chelsea and Roma were upping bids £1m at a time. For some reason they seem to think we're Burnley and don't have billionaire owners or a few hundred million than others around us thanks to winning the league and £80m from the champions league last year alone. Roma bid £17m for Mahrez in the summer the jokers.

Our owners are serious about building the club and have actually been up at your place looking at all your training facilities etc as they are buying land here and wanting to do the same. Want to either extend the ground or build a new one. They aren't looking to make a quick buck off a player sale.

 

[Homar]

And Mahrez is 26 and one of the best attacking players in the premier league, proven at his level. Attacking players go for more, we don't set the market. You guys do spending £50m on defenders.

To be fair, we do tend to spend more on defenders than attackers. Sterling is still our most expensive attacker and the reported figures being offered are more than we paid for him.

 

[foxedup]

I agree with a lot of what you say but you're living in cuckoo land if you think you're going to get £100 million for Mahrez in the summer.

24 months left on his contract, openly wants out of the club and has done for 2 years and no current bidding war for him.

Also, to state that £55 million is an insult is also laughable. Ignore the fees that Coutinho, Dembele and Neymar have moved for, they are not the norm. The likes of Aubamryang, Lacazette and Bernardo prices are more comparable and Mahrez is valued in that bracket.

I'm talking about the value he'd be for you in the summer if you signed him.

You don't seem to mention VVD or your new defender. £57m for an uncapped, untried defender in this league... bidding less than that for one of the best attacking players is a joke when you're talking about the owners of him being cash rich.

 

[citizens1976]

Who among us, even two years ago, would have predicted we could break our transfer record twice in a January transfer window, first to buy Aymeric Laporte, and then a second time to buy... Riyad Mahrez.

Riyad Mahrez as our most expensive ever purchase.

Pigs can fly.

Riyad Mahrez has won a Premier League title. Kevin De Bruyne hasn't yet. Don't underrate the player too much.

He's one of the most naturally gifted footballers around with a ball at his foot. He boasts better statistics than Alexis Sanchez and he's playing for a club who aren't in the top 6 at the moment. I find it amusing that people don't rate him. You just have to look at the performances against Arsenal away, Spurs at home and Huddersfield to know this is a very talented player. Would give us another dimension and would help us open teams up sitting behind the ball.

 

[Healdplace]

Who among us, even two years ago, would have predicted we could break our transfer record twice in a January transfer window, first to buy Aymeric Laporte, and then a second time to buy... Riyad Mahrez.

Riyad Mahrez as our most expensive ever purchase.

Pigs can fly.

We would have broken it to buy Sanchez. Why not here? I think Pep will get him flying in our system and he wants to come to play not to count bank notes.

I am sure we will go to our record here. But not way over. we would not have done that for Sanchez either.

 

[i8rags]

That's an odd increase of £4m to swing it to be so "logical"

The original amount quoted was 59 mill only went down when usual suspects got hold of it

 

[foxedup]

Sound like decent owners, hope it works out.

They've been brilliant barring their blip with Sven. Anyway good luck for the rest of the season (not that you need it), if you buy him you've got an exceptional player.

 

[Yates]

I think we would be willing to break our record for Mahrez. I'm gonna go £65M max

 

[cleavers]

I think it's obvious that City have moved for Mahrez after the injury to Sane which puts our season at risk.

Rubbish, City wanted Sanchez long before Sane got injured, so its a lot more obvious that they have identified Mahrez to replace Sanchez, not Sane.

 

[foxedup]

To be fair, we do tend to spend more on defenders than attackers. Sterling is still our most expensive attacker and the reported figures being offered are more than we paid for him.

That would be the exception in world football though, creative players are more often than not worth far more.

 

[Neville Kneville]

Because it improves us yes. From City’s prospective, not a hope man. £60m at a push.

We are not paying 90 mil now. Or 80.

Pep has gone to great lengths to warn Leicester of this.

If we had a transfer budget of 90 mil, in the summer, we would spend it on players we need, not players we want.

So where is Mahrez going ? Barca ? Nope. Real Madrid ? Nope. PSG ? If they sell Neymar would they use 70% of the money on Mahrez ? Utd ? Maybe as they have no plan, but they are full in those positions. City after refusing to pay it now ? Nope. Bayern Munich ? Not likely is it ?

So will Arsenal Spurs or Everton spend 90 mil on Mahrez ?

So will Mahrez just knuckle down & be an inspired matchwinner for Leicester next season ?

 

[dom]

This is what some people seem to be missing. As good as our season has been so far, our squad is still not deep enough to challenge on all fronts when we have injuries (and we always have injuries!). One more injury to an attacking player and the Champions League is an impossibility. The club won't want that. This season has the potential to be truly special, but we're going to throw that away by having too thin a squad? I doubt it. Get this deal done. The inflated fee will not be a problem when we're sitting on a treble.

Agreed...great player...get the bugger in ASAP ....though I can see huge resistance (understandably) from Leicester

 

[Healdplace]

I think we would be willing to break our record for Mahrez. I'm gonna go £65M max

I think that's about right. And about the right fee too.

 

[Marvin]

Rubbish, City wanted Sanchez long before Sane got injured, so its a lot more obvious that they have identified Mahrez to replace Sanchez, not Sane.

We were not in for Sanchez until Jesus got injured. There was a last minute enquiry when Jesus got injured by which time he was Utd bound.

 

[Skip Donoghue]

Did he play for Leicester in league cup? can't remember

Yes came off the bench

 

[bluemoonste]

£63M done !

 

[Luke The Blue]

I'm talking about the value he'd be for you in the summer if you signed him.

You don't seem to mention VVD or your new defender. £57m for an uncapped, untried defender in this league... bidding less than that for one of the best attacking players is a joke when you're talking about the owners of him being cash rich.

You forgetting he is pretty much refusing to play for your club? He hasn't travelled with the squad has he.