Gossip: Mahrez to return to Leicester on 'one condition', Man City 'target' Dybala, United boost for Pulisic
As slighted as he may feel by Leicester City’s refusal to accept a £60m bid from Manchester City for him on deadline day, Riyad Mahrez’s decision to respond by going AWOL was always going to come across as very childish. Like the kid who takes his ball home from the park because he is adamant his shot went “in off” the jumper goalpost rather than over it.
But now, the kid with the ball has returned. Slightly calmer, tears dried onto his face and ready to negotiate. Mahrez says he will return to the game on one condition, although it’s no less childish than his previous behaviour.
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The Times reports that the Algerian has agreed to play for the Foxes again this season, but only if they promise – PROMISE! – to let him leave at the end of the season.
And it doesn’t even have to be for Man City this time. Mahrez reportedly wants an assurance that Leicester will not stand in his way if City “or anyone else” want to sign him. Cue more tears when the Foxes ended up accepting a bid from West Brom and he has to go there.
Man City ‘make contact’ over Dybala
On that note, it may be a slight concern to Mahrez that City are today being linked with another expensive attacker – one who isn’t currently acting like a big baby.
The Mirror says the Premier League leaders have “made contact” with Juventus over the possible signing of Paulo Dybala. The 24-year-old Argentine is allegedly “keen” on working with Pep Guardiola and thinks a move to City would boost his chances of winning the Champions League.
The Old Lady, however, is reluctant to sell the forward and would only consider letting him go if he “expressed a desire to leave”. Maybe Mahrez could give him some advice on that.
Meanwhile, Man Utd have been given a boost in their pursuit of Borussia Dortmund forward Christian Pulisic after the 19-year-old American revealed he is a Red Devils fan. He was born more than 3,000 miles from Old Trafford, so it makes sense.
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The Mail quotes the teenager as responding to rumours of United’s interest by saying, “It’s cool to hear this stuff!” before throwing in a “You never know in football what can happen”. The lad is as good as signed.
Elsewhere, Liverpool are no longer interested in signing Thomas Lemar from Monaco and will pursue “other targets” this summer (Liverpool Echo), West Ham and Leicester will battle to sign Man City’s £15m-rated winger Patrick Roberts, who is currently on loan at Celtic (Sun) and former Spurs and Arsenal defender Sol Campbell has held talks with League One Oxford United, who are looking for a new manager (Mail). Presumably they wanted to know if he had any ideas on who they should appoint.
