Barcelona are threatening to derail Manchester United’s summer transfer plans as they plot a £40m bid for Leicester City winger Riyad Mahrez, according Don Balon.
The Spanish media outlet claims that the La Liga leaders have identified Mahrez as a top target and are happy to spend big to land the exciting Algerian international.
This could dash United’s hopes of signing the 25-year-old, with the Daily Star reporting that the Red Devils have been linked with an end-of-season move for Mahrez.
The Leicester speedster has been in incredible form this campaign to help take Claudio Ranieri’s underdogs to the cusp of an unlikely Premier League title triumph.
His combined tally of 27 – 16 goals and 11 assists – is more than any other player in the division and he is being tipped to win this season’s PFA Player of the Year award.
United are certainly more in need of some fresh attacking impetus than Barca, whose forward line of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar is smashing Spanish records
Although he has done superbly this season, Mahrez would surely find it difficult to make a substantial enough impact in Catalonia to dislodge any of that attacking trident.
The Algerian would arguably be better off enjoying Leicester’s Champions League ride, and biding his time for a move which would enhance, but not stifle, his fledgling career.
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