No one is quite sure who he’s signing for.
Riyad Mahrez is on the move.
The Leicester City winger has been given permission by Algeria leave their training camp to finalise a transfer from the Foxes. On Wednesday evening, the nation’s football federation released a statement saying Mahrez was on the way back to Europe to complete a move.
Mahrez released by Algeria to join new club. All sorts of implications depending which club it is.
— Simon Stone (@sistoney67) August 31, 2017
However, his destination remains unclear.
According to Sky Sports, Leicester haven’t received a new bid for the player in over three weeks, when they rejected Roma’s offer of £31.8m.
Understand #lcfc have had no new bids for Riyad Mahrez. Last offer was over 3 weeks ago – £31.8m from Roma.
— Rob Dorsett (@RobDorsettSky) August 31, 2017
Of course, that doesn’t mean Mahrez doesn’t have a deal ready to be formalised. Clubs are often the last to find out about a transfer, as Southampton can attest when reports emerged that Liverpool had signed Virgil van Dijk earlier this summer.
However, that hasn’t stopped people speculating about Mahrez’s next club.
Former England and West Ham winger Trevor Sinclair reckons the player is off to Chelsea, while Julian Draxler will sign for Arsenal and Alexis Sanchez will join Manchester City.
It's happening …. Mahrez to Chelsea, Draxler to Arsenal #WelcomeToManchester Sanchez 🔵⚪️
— Trevor Sinclair (@trevor8sinclair) August 31, 2017
He’s off to Spurs or Chelsea, apparently.
Riyad Mahrez reported to be in London after being released from Algerian squad, are Chelsea and Spurs going to sign the Leicester man?
— Ian Abrahams (Moose) (@BroadcastMoose) August 31, 2017
It's Spurs or Chelsea for Mahrez. He's in London as I speak. #deadlineday
— Hesham Bilal-Hafiz (@hesham786) August 31, 2017
But not Arsenal.
The club Riyad Mahrez has left the Algeria squad to sign for is… not Arsenal. #AFC are not in contention for the #LCFC winger #bbcfootball
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) August 31, 2017
Or is he?
Oh Twitter you beauty.#transferdeadlineday #TransferTalk #mahrez pic.twitter.com/1if83pwRfz
— Austin Kevin (@austinkevin7) August 31, 2017
Or will he sign for Manchester United? Mahrez’s last game for Leicester was at Old Trafford last weekend, and he was spotted have a chat with Paul Pogba and Marouane Fellaini after the final whistle.
Were they convincing him to join United?
Probably not.
Utd not expecting to do ANY business today, is the understanding. Not even a cheeky Mahrez bid…
— jamie jackson (@JamieJackson___) August 31, 2017
