Leicester star Riyad Mahrez has reportedly put in a transfer request after emerging as a target for Manchester City on the eve of the transfer deadline.
City are understood to be interested in the Algeria international and Sky Sports News reported on Tuesday that Mahrez had asked to leave the Foxes.
But any deal for the 2016 PFA Player of the Year would not be cheap. Leicester do not feel they need to sell their prize asset and it would take a fee in excess of the £75million (Dh389.4m) Liverpool recently paid for Virgil van Dijk to even consider it.
It is understood City have reportedly made a £55million (Dh285.5m) offer for Mahrez, although Leicester say they have not received any offers for the 26-year-old this month but their stance has not changed since last summer, when they rejected interest from Roma.
An injury to winger Leroy Sane, who has been ruled out for at least six weeks with ankle ligament damage, may have prompted City’s late interest.
Olivier Giroud, meanwhile, was named on Arsenal’s bench against Swansea on Tuesday night despite reports suggesting the France striker has agreed an £18m move to Chelsea.
Giroud’s future appeared increasingly likely to lie away from Arsenal after reports that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had arrived at the club’s training ground on Tuesday afternoon to finalise his transfer from Borussia Dortmund, who are determined to land a replacement before allowing the striker to leave.
Chelsea are favourites to sign Giroud on Wednesday, while their Belgium striker Michy Batshuayi is reported to be heading to Dortmund to complete the triangle.
City completed the club-record £57m signing of defender Aymeric Laporte on Tuesday.
The fee eclipses the £54m City paid for Kevin De Bruyne in 2015 and also makes him the second-most expensive defender in the world after Liverpool’s £75m signing of Van Dijk.
City have also signed English midfielder Jack Harrison from New York City on a three-and-a-half-year deal before sending him out on loan to Championship side Middlesbrough for the rest of the season.
“I can’t wait to get started over here,” Harrison said. “I’ve really enjoyed my time with New York City and I’d like to thank Patrick Vieira and his coaching staff for helping me develop as a player.”
“I’ve really improved and playing regularly in the MLS, but now I’m looking forward to testing myself in England. Middlesbrough are a good club, with Premier League experience and they’re in the mix for a return via the playoffs this season.”
