How do you compete with that?
Manchester City lost Leroy Sané to injury at the weekend when Cardiff’s Joe Bennett left a nasty tackle on the winger. He is estimated to be ruled out for around four weeks.
Gabriel Jesus is also injured, after he sustained a knee injury against Crystal Palace a few weeks back and won’t be back for a similar period of time.
This leaves City with just Sergio Agüero, Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva as their only fit attackers after they decided against going all out for Alexis Sánchez. It’s not a bad front three by any stretch of the imagination, but beyond them City are lacking attacking options with Sané and Jesus out.
It was reported today that they have made a late bid for Riyad Mahrez in a bid to add attacking depth to their squad. Given how little time remains in this January window, Leicester will demand big bucks from City if they are to sell their most prized asset.
Man City have made an inquiry for Riyad Mahrez.. but #lcfc in no mood to sell and a £60m bid would be instantly dismissed. Valuation significantly higher now following the Coutinho & Van Dijk deals this month
— John Percy (@JPercyTelegraph) January 30, 2018
City’s ability to make this sort of bid when one of their wingers gets injured has upset a few fans. And they raise a fair point.
https://twitter.com/wood10_/status/958359541116231680
So Sane is out with an injury, what does Man City do?
Bid 68 million euros for Mahrez.
Tell me again how Pep is a genius…
— US Soccer Feed (@ussoccerfeed) January 30, 2018
If city offer for mahrez is for real it’s pure evidence that city are buying the title,to get an injury to 1 player then go bid €60?#nohope
— I.O.W YID 🟣🟡 (@RussellHartnell) January 30, 2018
Manchester City gonna ruin Riyad Mahrez's career because Sane is injured for 6 weeks
— Daily Cannon (@DailyCannon) January 30, 2018
Are City really bidding £60m for Mahrez just because Sane is out for 6 weeks? Absolutely ridiculous logic when you consider they have Bernardo Silva on bench and Brahim and Foden coming through.
— Subhasish (@ArdentRedDevil) January 30, 2018
It’s a fair point too; for all Pep Guardiola has done to transform the City team into a near unstoppable force, splashing almost £70m on a player who will probably be demoted to the bench upon Sané’s return does him no favours in trying to shed the ‘chequebook manager’ tag.
You’d think Guardiola would see this as a chance to give Phil Foden, Brahim Diaz and more game time. The two promising youngsters have been on the fringes this season and shown glimpses of their talent in the few chances they have had.
Of course, it’s not the first time City have panicked in January because of a key player getting injured.
Not the first January window that Man City have gone crazy because of one injury. 10 years ago this month Valeri Bojinov's injury saw them sign Nery Castillo, Benjani AND Felipe Caicedo
— Ed Malyon (@eaamalyon) January 30, 2018
Mahrez has reportedly handed in a transfer request since reports of Man City’s bid broke, and such a huge bid will be tempting to Leicester. However, it’s still unlikely that the Foxes will sell Mahrez to City with so little time to replace him.
