Tottenham keeping tabs on Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez

Tottenham Hotspur has never really been strongly linked with a move for Riyad Mahrez. Until maybe now? Tom Collomose writes in the Evening Standard today that Spurs have asked to keep informed about Mahrez’s status at Leicester City, but haven’t made any formal bids.

One of the star of Leicester’s “fairy tale” run to the 2016 Premier League title, Mahrez took a step backwards (along with his team) last season, and has now asked to leave the club. However, Leicester are insisting on top dollar for him, demanding, according to some reports, as much as £50m for his transfer fee.

While some might say that he’s probably worth more at that level than Ross Barkley, that’s still going to price him right out of Spurs’ budget. Just like with Barkley, Spurs are hoping that Mahrez’s price will drop as the transfer window goes on this summer.

Mahrez is 26 and is probably in his peak footballing years. Despite a disappointing campaign last season, he’s still a very good player that would improve Tottenham’s attack. With plenty of matches to play in the Champions League, two cups, and the Premier League, he’d get lots of minutes and would improve Spurs’ depth in the short term as they wait on the return of Son Heung-Min and Erik Lamela from injury and look to offload Moussa Sissoko.

Mahrez is currently with Leicester in a pre-season tour to Hong Kong, where they face West Brom and Liverpool in the 2017 Asia Trophy.