Mahrez was never right for City

IF you ask me City dodged a bullet by not signing Riyad Mahrez.

And it is no wonder the word is Pep Guardiola won’t be going back for Leicester’s moody maestro in the summer.

I thought even in these crazy times his £60m-plus value was over the top when Guardiola surprisingly tried to sign him during the January transfer window.

And although that value has surely dipped after his apparent sulk at not getting his move, the moment has gone and the Blues will be looking elsewhere.

You do wonder how much more City need to strengthen their all-conquering squad that are now 12/1 at Betfred for the quad.

Sergio Aguero is 10/1 to score a hat-trick against Leicester today – and that would boost his chances of overtaking the league’s top scorer – Spurs’ Harry Kane who is 4/11 for the golden boot with Liverpool’s Mo Salah at 7/2. City’s Aguero (13/2) is on 17 league goals this season while Kane has 21, one ahead of highly-skilled Egyptian Salah.

Congratulations to Rochdale! They have not only reached the fifth round of the FA Cup but have already got a psychological advantage over Tottenham without kicking a ball. Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino hasn’t stopped grumbling about the Spotland pitch. League One strugglers Dale are 16/1 at Betfred to beat Spurs a week tomorrow with the Premier League visitors at 1/7 – and if you think Keith Hill’s team will force a draw and go to Wembley that’s 11/2.

Meanwhile, United shouldn’t have any trouble maintaining their momentum in the race to be second behind runaway leaders City at Newcastle tomorrow.

The Reds are 4/6 at Betfred to beat the Toon – and Alexis Sanchez is 3/1 to open the scoring.