BREAKING: Riyad Mahrez hands in a transfer request to Leicester City

Riyad Mahrez has handed in a transfer request to Leicester City, according to Sky Sports.

Shortly after the footballing world was informed of Manchester City’s interest in the Algerian wantaway, it has turned out that their interest is strong indeed, with two bids in the region of £50 million already submitted and “rejected”. No wonder Mahrez has requested to leave.

This is the second consecutive transfer window that has seen Riyad Mahrez officially submit a transfer request, after the 26-year had made clear as to what did he want back in the summer of 2017. A move didn’t materialise then, but it may well go through this time around, judging by the intent that Manchester City have shown.

The Citizens have been dealt a heavy blow as the Premier League approaches its decisive end, with Leroy Sane ruled out for two months following an injury he sustained in the FA Cup tie against Cardiff City.

Gabriel Jesus also expected to spend some more time on the sidelines, Manchester City are suddenly short of options up front, and Pep Guardiola has therefore lined up Leicester City star Riyad Mahrez as the man to sort the mess out.

If the Algerian does force a move in the dying stages of the January transfer window, he’d be leaving behind a fairly angry fanbase, partly because this isn’t the right way or the right time to leave, especially when he’s fully aware of Leicester’s situation as far a replacement is concerned.

Next: Ahmed Musa leaves Leicester City on loan to CSKA Moscow

Claude Puel had been extremely confident whenever asked about the winger, but one can almost guess that even he mustn’t have seen this coming.