Mahrez to submit transfer request to force Manchester City move

Riyad Mahrez will hand in a transfer request in force through a move to Manchester City before Wednesday’s deadline, claims The Daily Mail.

The Algeria international has emerged as a shock target for Pep Guardiola’s side in the final days of the January transfer window.

Guardiola wants to sign the 26-year-old in the wake of news Leroy Sane will be sidelined for up to seven weeks with ankle ligament damage.

City missed out on Alexis Sanchez earlier in the window and have now turned to Mahrez in a bid to stay on course to win an unprecedented quadruple this season.

Guardiola’s side have reportedly already tabled a bid for the former PFA Player of the Year worth as much as €65m (£57m) and now Mahrez will look to force through a move his end.

The Leicester star has been desperate to join one of the biggest clubs in the world over the last few years and even handed in a transfer request at the end of last season.

It remains to be seen whether the Foxes will buckle to Mahrez’s demands with just over 24 hours remaining in the January transfer window, but City are making a real push to get a deal over the line.

Despite wanting out over the summer, Mahrez has been immense for Claude Puel’s side this season and rediscovered the form he showed during Leicester’s title-winning season in 2016.

Mahrez has played a direct hand in 15 Premier League goals already this season (eight goals, seven assists), six more than he managed over the course of the last campaign.