Riyad Mahrez is reportedly prepared to commit his long-term future to Manchester City and could pen fresh terms at the Etihad this summer.
A recent report from The Sun has offered a fresh update on the future of Riyad Mahrez. With one year left on the Algerian’s contract, this summer appeared to be a decision time for both the club and the player, with the feeling that Manchester City may want to move on from the 31-year-old. But other moves in the summer have meant that he could be set for a contract extension instead.
Mahrez joined Pep Guardiola’s side in the summer of 2018 for a reported £60 million, making him the most expensive African player at the time. And he has been instrumental in Manchester City’s trophy-laden success over the past few seasons.
To date, the Algerian international has made 189 appearances across all competitions for the Citizens, scoring 63 goals and assisting 46 during his time at the Etihad. He was in fine form yet again and played a vital role in helping Pep Guardiola’s side secure a fourth Premier League title in five seasons, finishing as Manchester City’s leading goalscorer for the 2021/22 season.
His return of 24 goals across all competitions represented his best goal tally in a Manchester City shirt, while he also clocked up nine assists along the way. For a player of Mahrez’s quality and appealing contract situation, there have not been many rumours linking him with a move away from the Etihad.
With multiple frontline exits on the horizon, securing long-term futures of their other key attacking stars could be next on the Manchester City hierarchy’s agenda this summer, notably Mahrez, who only has a year left on his £160,000-a-week deal at the Etihad.
This could be the summer of a major overhaul at the Etihad. While they have moved rapidly to land Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez, this may be balanced out by the fact that Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling are expected to be on their way out of the club, with Arsenal and Chelsea, respectively, strongly linked with both forwards. The former has even reached an agreement for Jesus’s transfer.
This scenario may put Mahrez in a strong negotiating position as Manchester City will not want to lose three forwards in the same window. The 31-year-old is reported to be holding out for a three-year deal at the Etihad, with the possibility of an additional year later on.
Mahrez is regarded a ‘player of the big stages‘ by Guardiola, and according to The Sun, the Citizens are keen to secure the winger’s long-term future in order to prevent losing him on a free transfer next summer.
Manchester City are planning to open extension talks with Mahrez’s representatives next month and are believed to be quietly confident that a deal will be agreed between both parties without any problems as the player is understood to be settled at Manchester and happy to spend the rest of his peak footballing years representing by taking home £160,000 per week.
