Welcome Riyad Mahrez.....26

[Nigels Tackle]

Sign him, whatever the cost. If he turns out shit, loan him somewhere for free and pay his wages or sell him for next to nothing.

It's a tried and tested method. What can go wrong?

pmsl
i don't like this deal.

[FA cup winners 2006]

Surely this is not a panic buy solely because of Sane's injury, if it is, then you would really have to question our strategy.

Mahrez was probably a summer target, but a few things have changed and we have simply moved the transfer up to January.

Could it be possible that Pep sees Mahrez as a replacement for D. Silva in the midfield 3. He closes down well, he is not the type to sit out on the wing for long periods of the game, he tends to drift inside and gets involved in play, he has excellent close control, he has a quick mind that works well in confined spaces and he can beat players with the drop of a shoulder.

[fangsanalsatan]

Mahrez or not, we will have to change our tactical set-up drastically during Sané's absence. mahrez is not a like-for-like replacement, and with Mendy still out as well, we have now pace at all on the left.

Maybe Pep will go back to a back 3 again, now that Laporte is on board, but I still don't see an ideal fit for the left wing in that case.

With both Sané and Mendy out, we have too many players for the left side who are conditioned to drift to the centre. I can only think of Sterling who reliably holds shape if needed. I don't think Mahrez will address that and I also think he is too similar to Bernardo, who has been doing quite well in the last couple of games.

[sheblue]

Can't see it happening. It would cost too much.

[john@staustell]

Can't see it happening. It would cost too much.

Question is how good Txiki is at playing poker. Not very on previous evidence but do Leicester want a Mr Grumpy etc, devaluing week by week?

[Mase]

If we wanted him not sure why we didn’t use Nacho in the summer as a bargaining tool.

[PeterParker]

If we wanted him not sure why we didn’t use Nacho in the summer as a bargaining tool.

Fuck me, Mase, you might have something there. I think the club will use that, who the fuck knows what clauses and add-ons that transfer had.

[Plain Speaking]

Can't see it happening. It would cost too much.

Question is how good Txiki is at playing poker. Not very on previous evidence but do Leicester want a Mr Grumpy etc, devaluing week by week?

Mahrez didn't seem to let his performances suffer much, after failing to get a summer transfer away, unlike Sanchez. It's a gamble for Leicester if this will be the case after a second disappointment.

There was a rumour he was told he could go if the buying club stumped up the right money. Maybe Mahrez has been trying extra hard, to convince a CL club to invest in him.

Would about £70m be the right amount? It sits about halfway between our £50m+ and their reported asking price of £90m+.

[Mase]

If we wanted him not sure why we didn’t use Nacho in the summer as a bargaining tool.

Fuck me, Mase, you might have something there. I think the club will use that, who the fuck knows what clauses and add-ons that transfer had.

Potentially say we’ll scrap the sell on clause in Nacho’s contract if they accept £55 million. It’s a risk as Nacho may turn out to be class but I have my doubts.

[FA cup winners 2006]

Can't see it happening. It would cost too much.

Question is how good Txiki is at playing poker. Not very on previous evidence but do Leicester want a Mr Grumpy etc, devaluing week by week?

Mahrez didn't seem to let his performances suffer much, after failing to get a summer transfer away, unlike Sanchez. It's a gamble for Leicester if this will be the case after a second disappointment.

There was a rumour he was told he could go if the buying club stumped up the right money. Maybe Mahrez has been trying extra hard, to convince a CL club to invest in him.

Would about £70m be the right amount? It sits about halfway between our £50m+ and their reported asking price of £90m+.

In todays crazy market, £50mill is about right and probably even slightly over what Mahrez is worth. He is a good player but not world class and probably never will be (unless Pep can totally change him around). Just because Leicester throw out a stupid price does not mean we have to use it as a benchmark for any reason. If we pay one cent over £60mill then we are idiots

[john@staustell]

To be honest I think he is exactly the sort of player for our style - breaking through those packed defences. Much more than Leicester

[Nigels Tackle]

would rather pay fulham over the odds for sessegnon

[john@staustell]

.....but I don't think it will come off

[Plain Speaking]

I think Mahrez looked world class when Leicester won the PL. He was the PoTY in the PL. Just like KDB will be this year.

His form dipped last season but he has been superb in some of his performances this season, I watched him against Chelsea and he tore them apart. I think Pep would love to get him and there's every possibility Pep will bring the very best out of him.

[Blue Noodle]

would rather pay fulham over the odds for sessegnon

Me too. 17, bags of ability and potential. Can play anywhere on the left. Think he has 12+ goals from left back this season. An incredible return. However, i think someone else on here pointed out that we are currently banned from signing anyone under 18 in England. So........☹

Not bothered either way on Mahrez.

[fangsanalsatan]

Can't see it happening. It would cost too much.

Question is how good Txiki is at playing poker. Not very on previous evidence but do Leicester want a Mr Grumpy etc, devaluing week by week?

Mahrez didn't seem to let his performances suffer much, after failing to get a summer transfer away, unlike Sanchez. It's a gamble for Leicester if this will be the case after a second disappointment.

There was a rumour he was told he could go if the buying club stumped up the right money. Maybe Mahrez has been trying extra hard, to convince a CL club to invest in him.

Would about £70m be the right amount? It sits about halfway between our £50m+ and their reported asking price of £90m+.

In todays crazy market, £50mill is about right and probably even slightly over what Mahrez is worth. He is a good player but not world class and probably never will be (unless Pep can totally change him around). Just because Leicester throw out a stupid price does not mean we have to use it as a benchmark for any reason. If we pay one cent over £60mill then we are idiots

I'm not sure how you calculate these figures, but in a market where Coutinho goes for 140m and virtually all of our defenders cost around 50m, Leicester are entitled o hold out for 80-ish imo. He's very good and crucial to their attacking play. Pus, it's deadline day in January.

Not arsed about the money, but slightly confused about our recruiting strategy. I rate Mahrez, but I thought deadline day bids and impulse buys were a thing of the past.

[bluemoon]

Can't see it happening. It would cost too much.

Question is how good Txiki is at playing poker. Not very on previous evidence but do Leicester want a Mr Grumpy etc, devaluing week by week?

Mahrez didn't seem to let his performances suffer much, after failing to get a summer transfer away, unlike Sanchez. It's a gamble for Leicester if this will be the case after a second disappointment.

There was a rumour he was told he could go if the buying club stumped up the right money. Maybe Mahrez has been trying extra hard, to convince a CL club to invest in him.

Would about £70m be the right amount? It sits about halfway between our £50m+ and their reported asking price of £90m+.

In todays crazy market, £50mill is about right and probably even slightly over what Mahrez is worth. He is a good player but not world class and probably never will be (unless Pep can totally change him around). Just because Leicester throw out a stupid price does not mean we have to use it as a benchmark for any reason. If we pay one cent over £60mill then we are idiots

I'm not sure how you calculate these figures, but in a market where Coutinho goes for 140m and virtually all of our defenders cost around 50m, Leicester are entitled o hold out for 80-ish imo. He's very good and crucial to their attacking play. Pus, it's deadline day in January.

Not arsed about the money, but slightly confused about our recruiting strategy. I rate Mahrez, but I thought deadline day bids and impulse buys were a thing of the past.

So did I, but guessing these last minute deals are due to potential FFP 2.0 etc? TBH trying to get him now, may not be the worst decision in the world, I have a feeling costs are only going to go p come the summer.

[Original Dub]

I'd be very surprised if all of this wasn't more connected to the Sanchez saga than the Sane injury.

Knowing Mahrez was achievable, much less wages, younger and performing better this season might have turned our heads. The Sane injury puts more meat on it of course, but like most of these deadline deals, whether they happen or not, have been agreed long before and done to help deal with the backlash from fans.

[Hazy2]

We have to sign him my RAG brother rates him, his words add him and Fred and it will be over for years

[johnny crossan]

the dark dark side of this business is him