Al-Ittihad preparing to rival Al-Ahli for signature of five-time Premier League winner | OneFootball

Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad are looking to finalise a move for Manchester City forward Riyad Mahrez amid interest from Al-Ahli.

The Algerian international became a Champions League winner last weekend, having recently also become one of just a handful of players to win the Premier League five times, as Manchester City won their 14th trophy of the Pep Guardiola era.

Mahrez moved to the Etihad Stadium from Leicester City for £60 million in 2018, and the 32 year-old has made 236 appearances for the Sky Blues since swapping the King Power for East Manchester.

The forward has scored 78 goals for Manchester City and made history in April, scoring a hat-trick in an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley Stadium against Sheffield United.

Mahrez didn’t feature in the FA Cup Final victory over Manchester United or the Champions League Final win against Inter Milan in Istanbul, with the Algerian winger reportedly frustrated by a lack of minutes during the 2022/23 campaign.

The 32 year-old made 36 starts for Manchester City during the season, but has become one of several first-team stars to be linked with a potential exit from the Etihad Stadium this summer.

Two Saudi Pro League clubs are interested in signing Mahrez, with the growing potential for the City forward to become the latest player to move to the Middle Eastern league.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema have both completed major transfers to the Saudi Pro League, while Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kanté is also poised to move to the Middle East.

Al-Ahli have been heavily linked with the 32 year-old, however Romain Molina reports that rivals Al-Ittihad are looking to ‘finalise’ a move for Mahrez.

Amid interest from two Pro League teams, Fabrizio Romano reports that Manchester City will request an ‘important’ fee from any Saudi Arabian club, with the Sky Blues’ message and stance regarding a transfer being clear.

City will themselves play in Saudi Arabia later this year, with the Blues having qualified for the FIFA Club World Cup following last weekend’s Champions League triumph.

City are expected to be in the transfer market for a new winger this summer, with Croatian pair Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol also linked with potential moves to the Premier League champions.