Riyad Mahrez hands in transfer request to Leicester as Manchester City make £60m move

RIYAD MAHREZ has handed in a fresh transfer request to Leicester City, according to reports.

SunSport exclusively revealed before anyone else that Manchester City is launching a surprise £60million deadline move for the winger.

PA:PRESS ASSOCIATION: Riyad Mahrez has handed in a transfer request to Leicester City

And now Sky Sports claim that the Algerian has told Foxes chiefs he wants to leave before the January window slams shut tomorrow.

Mahrez made his desire to exit the King Power clear last summer as he handed in a written transfer request.

He missed training on Tuesday as he looks to force through a move away.

A number of clubs were linked with the 2016 PFA Player of the Year and Premier League winner.

Arsenal and Liverpool were both believed to be interested, and Roma declared their intention to sign him but were priced out of a move by Leicester.

REUTERS: Manchester City are making a late £60m move to sign him before Wednesday’s transfer window

PA:PRESS ASSOCIATION: Pep Guardiola is hoping to add the Algerian to his squad

Chelsea then made a late attempt to bring him to Stamford Bridge in August but were unable to get a deal over the line.

And Mahrez is determined not to miss out on the possibility of joining one of the big boys again this month after last year’s frustrations.

Pep Guardiola has dramatically switched his search for an extra attacker to the gifted flanker after pulling out of the Alexis Sanchez deal.

Despite topping the Prem table, City want something more in attack with Leroy Sane injured for six or seven weeks and the Champions League to be challenged for.

Money is no object in the Mahrez move but they will face opposition from the Foxes hierarchy who have turned down advances in the past and have the cash to do so again.

Mahrez went missing from Leicester in a bid to push through a transfer to Chelsea in the summer window but the tactic did not work.

City want to play it straight and agree a fee, knowing that wages will not be an issue.

PA:PRESS ASSOCIATION: Riyad Mahrez handed in a transfer request to the Leicester board last summer

MATTHEW CHILDS: He was priced out of a move to a number of clubs as Leicester held firm for their valuation

PA:PRESS ASSOCIATION: Mahrez is determined to not miss out on another big opportunity this month

They had fortunes set aside for Sanchez but were unwilling to break their own wage structure to bring in the Chilean.

The potential move would see the Etihad outfit smash their transfer record for the second time in two days after splashing £57m on Atletico Bilbao’s Aymeric Laporte.