CITY FACING UP TO DEAL D-DAY OVER MAHREZ
MANCHESTER CITY are set for a multi-million pound contract dilemma over the future of Riyad Mahrez.
His £120,000-a-week deal expires in just 16 months when he will be 32 and City must decide if they will hand him another big-money contract.
They could delay a decision until next season but would run the risk of him signing a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club from January, with Paris Saint-germain monitoring his situation.
Mahrez is playing well enough to earn a new contract at the Etihad and is the Blues’ top scorer with 16 goals, plus he has contributed five assists.
The Algeria star is enjoying his best campaign for City and he has netted in his last seven successive appearances.
Yet he is 31 this month and clubs are reluctant to hand long-term deals to players who are passing their peak years.
City will sign a striker this summer, which could impact on Mahrez’s longterm Blues’ future, and they are understood to be considering Inter Milan’s Argentina forward Lautaro
Martinez. Ilkay Gundogan (below) is in a similar position and the Germany midfielder’s contract is also due to expire in June 2023.
He has already spoken about returning to the Bundesliga one day and the Blues may well let his contact run down.
Raheem Sterling won a Premier League record 23rd penalty, which Mahrez converted for the opening goal in City’s 2-0 win over Brentford on Wednesday, and is in no doubt about Gundogan’s value to the champions.
“He’s in brilliant form and I just hope he keeps going,” said the England star. “He’s a big player for us and has been for many years. He’s crucial to this side.”
Pep Guardiola hailed Mahrez as “fearless” because of his coolness from the spot and is impressed by his technique after he famously skied the first penalty he took for
City in a goalless draw at Liverpool in October 2018.
He has converted all eight he has taken since and Guardiola said: “He has the personality and special quality, no fear.
“Riyad can shoot both sides and effectively strong to the corners. Some cannot do that, he can.”