Reports: Barcelona looking to sign Leicester City's golden boy Riyad Mahrez in the summer
Barcelona are reportedly in the race to sign Algerian magician, Riyad Mahrez, in the summer from current Premier League leaders, Leicester City. The Foxes who have stunned the world by leading the League at this stage of the season owe a lot of their success to Mahrez who has been instrumental by scoring goals and racking up assists.
Barcelona are looking to sign a creative midfielder who can lift the weight of Andres Iniesta's shoulder given the departure of both Xavi and Cesc Fabregas in recent windows. Mahrez would do well to slot into a midfield that already boasts of world-class talents like Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic.
Claudio Ranieri's man is on a £35,000-a-week contract at Leicester with the club looking to offer him a double-your-wage contract extension soon but with Barcelona reportedly looking to sign him, things might get tricky for the Foxes.
Earlier this month, when asked about whether he'd like to play alongside five-time Ballon d'Or winner, Lionel Messi, he said, "It’s not my goal or my dream but obviously everyone wants to play with Messi. One day, maybe. Why not?"
"I didn’t have a hero but there were some players I liked watching," Mahrez added. "Players like Zinedine Zidane, Didier Drogba, Messi, the Brazilian Ronaldo."
Mahrez has scored 14 goals in 25 appearances for the Foxes notching up 10 assists along the way and alongside Jamie Vardy and N'Golo Kante, has been one of the best players the league-leaders have.
While Barcelona might be inclined to lose one of either Sergi Roberto or Sergi Samper in the summer, Mahrez could prove to be a bargain buy for the club given the form and consistency he's able to put in week in and week out.