DES REZ
Man City’s £108M joint deal for Mahrez and Jorginho looks done as Pep does his ‘cut-price’ summer business early
MANCHESTER CITY are finally set to seal a £108million double swoop for their top summer targets Riyad Mahrez and Jorginho.
City are in advanced talks with Leicester over a deal for Mahrez for an initial £60m.
Sources close to the negotiations claim the Algeria star and
2016 PFA Player of the Year could have his medical this week.
Mahrez, 27, wants his future, which has been uncertain since City first moved for him in January, resolved before he is due to report back to Leicester for pre-season training next week.
The Premier League champions will pay Leicester add-ons, but the final fee will be less than the £80m the King Power club demanded in January.
City refused to pay the Foxes’ asking price and will be satisfied they have not been held to ransom. Pep Guardiola will be delighted to finally land Mahrez, who is expected to sign a five-year contract.
The City boss feels he needs another wide attacking option in addition to Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane.
Mahrez’s move should be completed before Monday when City are due to begin pre-season training.
Jorginho’s move to the club from Napoli is believed to be closer to completion with the two clubs finally ready to agree a fee of €55m (£48.7m).
City had threatened to walk away from the talks because of Napoli’s £61m valuation of the Brazil-born Italy midfielder (circle).
They did not want to pay much more than £40m and have agreed a compromise with Napoli after nearly two months of haggling.
Jorginho, 26, will sign a five-year deal at City, which will treble his wages.
New Napoli boss Carlo Ancelotti has left the player out of his pre-season training squad in a clear sign the transfer is imminent.
Jorginho was Guardiola’s other main summer target and he wants him to replace Yaya Toure and take some of the burden off Fernandinho’s shoulders in the midfield holding role.
Guardiola will also welcome France Under-18 international Claudio Gomes to the Etihad this month and the midfielder is joining on a Bosman from Paris Saint-germain.
City agreed terms with Gomes in January, but must wait until he turns 18 on July 23 to sign him officially.
The Blues’ focus once Mahrez and Jorginho are done will be on offloading those players unwanted by Guardiola. They will pledge to do all they can to help keeper Joe Hart find a new club.
The former City and England No.1 – who has 12 months left on his contract – is due back on Monday, after spending last season on loan at West Ham, and the Blues want to help him move on in his career.