Stan Collymore has urged Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United to sign Riyad Mahrez from Manchester City in the summer transfer window.
The former Liverpool striker has written in CaughtOffSide that Newcastle should go all out for City winger Mahrez.
The pundit believes that defending champions City could be willing to cash in on the Algeria international winger at the end of the season.
Newcastle United urged to sign Riyad Mahrez from Manchester City
Collymore wrote: “Riyad Mahrez is another player I think Newcastle should be seriously considering.
“I know he’s played a fair amount of football this season, probably more than he was expecting, but with Jack Grealish the younger of the two, as well as how much they paid for him, I can’t see him being a player that is moved on, whereas, I think Mahrez could be made surplus to requirements under Pep Guardiola, and should that be the case, Newcastle should go all out for him – I would be stunned if they aren’t already to be fair.”
HITC Verdict: Summer transfer unlikely
In our view, Newcastle United are unlikely to sign Riyad Mahrez from Premier League rivals Manchester City in the summer transfer window.
First of all, the winger himself may not be willing to leave City at the end of the season.
After all, the 32-year-old is playing quite often for the Citizens and seems happy in Manchester.
And City could win the Premier League, the FA Cup and the UEFA Champions League this season.
Mahrez has made 15 starts in the Premier League, six starts in the UEFA Champions League and has played five times in the FA Cup for the Citizens this season.
Moreover, the winger is 32 years of age now.
True, Mahrez is playing well now, but we do not think that Newcastle are going to invest in a player in his early 30s even if they get UEFA Champions League football next season.
The winger is earning £200,000 per week (SalarySport) at City, who will also want a decent transfer fee for him.
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