Tottenham Hotspur and Riyad Mahrez’s other potential suitors are boosted by Roma dropping out of the race.
Roma Sporting Director Monchi suggests via The Mail that he will not pursue Leicester City winger and reported Tottenham Hotspur target Riyad Mahrez any longer.
The Italian club have already had two bids knocked back for the 2016 Premier League Player of the Year – the first of which was for £30.7 million, according to Goal.com – and the Spaniard does not seem keen on a third bid.
He said: “In the case of Mahrez it’s become public knowledge, with others it hasn’t. We’ve made two offers, the second is fair and then we stopped.
“I do not know [how likely a deal is], there is not a measurement for these things.
“Mahrez is one option, yes, but he is not the only one – and after the last offer we are ready to look at other possibilities.”
If true then Roma’s perceived exit from the race clears the path for the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal to battle it out for his signature.
The Evening Standard reported last week that Tottenham were indeed interested, but would not pay the £50 million that the Foxes reportedly want for him.
In any case, Roma bowing out should, in theory, make it easier to sign the Algeria international, given the reduced competition, but it remains to be seen if they will.
Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino has signed nobody so far this summer and frustration is slowly but surely growing on the white half of North London.
But a big-money move for Mahrez might well appease concerns and renew a sense of optimism among the Lilywhites fans.
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