'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
What's the rumour?
As per the good folk over at Goal, Manchester City are launching an audacious €68 million (or £60 million) move to sign Riyad Mahrez from Leicester City before Wednesday's transfer deadline.
The report states that Man City were busy working on this as well as completing the signing of Aymeric Laporte from Athletic Bilbao (which has been done) - as well as Shakhtar Donetsk attacking midfielder Fred.
In case you didn't know
While the report states that City had been working on this deal for a while, Leroy's Sane's injury at Cardiff seems to have accelerated matters. In his press conference today, Pep Guardiola confirmed that the German winger would be out for a while - "He's injured," Guardiola told reporters. "It will be six or seven weeks out."
Trending
This has meant the men in the suits have upped their ante in looking to reach a favourable conclusion by tomorrow night!
The heart of the matter
Mahrez has been angling for a move to a European giant for a while now - and his scintillating return to form should have been enough to interest any number of top clubs, but his name has strangely stayed out of the rumour mill... until now.
Rumour Reliability/ Probability
7/10
City's business dealings are often conducted with lightning quickness and great stealth, and there's a real chance that the Cityzens would be interested in the genuinely world-class Mahrez.
His addition would be a boost to the squad, and would completely negate the loss of Sane for an extended period.
Video
Here's Mahrez ripping Man City apart during that magical season
The Algerian surely will add value to the City squad.
Author's Take
Riyad Mahrez would have been a brilliant buy for any of the top Premier League sides and it's rather strange that things have been quiet on that front. While Leicester City will do their utmost to keep the player, if he himself forces a move through - and if City offer a deal that's too good to refuse - Mahrez might just be wearing the light blue of City come February.
