Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Ahli are reportedly preparing to make a £30m offer for Manchester City attacker Riyad Mahrez.
The 32-year-old struggled for regular starts under Pep Guardiola during the 2022-23 season but nevertheless came up with 15 goals and 13 assists in 47 matches across all tournaments.
Mahrez was just one of six Premier League players to reach double figures in assists last term, setting up 10 goals to sit behind Kevin De Bruyne, Mohamed Salah, Leandro Trossard, Michael Olise and Bukayo Saka.
However, the Algeria international was seldom seen in the Champions League after the group stage, playing just 11 minutes from the quarter-finals to the final, where he was an unused substitute against Inter Milan.
Mahrez remains under contract at the Etihad Stadium until the summer of 2025, but he has been tipped to leave the treble-winners for over a year now amid previous interest from Paris Saint-Germain.
© Reuters
PSG are not expected to reignite their interest this time around, and a lucrative transfer to Saudi Arabia has instead been mooted for Mahrez, who could reportedly quintuple his wages in the Middle East.
A recent report stated that Mahrez had turned down the chance to enjoy a mammoth payday in the Gulf state, but according to The Athletic, Al-Ahli are preparing to try their luck.
The outlet states that the Saudi Pro League side are ready to offer Man City £30m to prise Mahrez away from the Etihad, and he has been offered £25m per year in the Saudi Pro League.
Mahrez is yet to make a firm decision on his future and could opt to remain with the Citizens, but the former Leicester City man has supposedly not ruled out a move to Saudi Arabia.
Furthermore, Man City are reportedly reluctant to let Mahrez depart, especially as the club are unlikely to try to sign a direct replacement for Barcelona-bound Ilkay Gundogan.
© Reuters
Having lost out to Arsenal in the race for Declan Rice, Man City are thought to be planning to revert Bernardo Silva into a midfield role, assuming the Portugal international stays in Manchester.
Silva's position switch would open the door for Mahrez to nail down the right-wing spot, although the treble-winners will dip into their cash reserves if the former departs amid interest from Al-Hilal.
Since shining for Leicester during their run to the 2015-16 Premier League title and earning a move to Man City in 2018, Mahrez has amassed 78 goals and 59 assists in 236 matches for Guardiola's side in all tournaments.
The 32-year-old has been named Man City's Player of the Month on seven occasions, including in January of this year, when he was also named the PFA Fans' Player of the Month.
Al-Ahli have already made two marquee signings from the Premier League this summer, bringing in Edouard Mendy from Chelsea and ex-Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino.
