Riyad Mahrez expected to sign new Manchester City contract | OneFootball

Manchester City have opened contract talks with Riyad Mahrez, with both Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling looking likely to be heading out of the club. The Algerian is currently in the last 12 months of his contract.

The news has come from Jack Gaughan and Sami Mokbel of the Daily Mail, who state that City want to extend Mahrez's contract – this coming after he finished as the club's top goalscorer in all competitions last season with 24 goals; five more than any other City player.

Gaughan and Mokbel confirm that there is an expectance that Mahrez will put pen to paper and commit his future at the Etihad after initial discussions and negotiations being positive.

With Jesus heading to the Gunners in a £45 million + deal and Chelsea looking more and more likely to sign Sterling, City are looking to keep the 31-year-old winger beyond 2023.

Pep Guardiola has freshened the attack this summer with the incomings of Erling Haaland and South American Player of the Year, Julian Alvarez; Guardiola has the option of six forwards on the basis that Sterling leaves for Stamford Bridge and isn't replaced by the club.

Highly-rated youngster Cole Palmer, who contributed to four goals last season in only four starts, looks set to be a backup to Mahrez on the right with Phil Foden and Jack Grealish being utilised on the left.

Following his most successful season statistically (33 contributions to goals in 47 appearances), the Algerian International is not looking to be slowing down. Guardiola seems to have put his trust in the winger after starting him in every Champions League game last season bar one – a dead rubber group stage game at home to Sporting CP.

Important goals against PSG in 2021/22 and a goal that looked set to be helping the Blues head to their second successive Champions League final against Madrid last season have made the forward a crucial asset for the Blues in the big games.

His ability to beat his man with relative ease, his crossing into the box, which the club's new strikers should be licking their lips at the sight of, and his ability to now get into the right positions and finish some chances for himself has made the club eager to keep him at the Etihad.

It's expected that Mahrez will sign the contract, keeping him at the club for more than five years.

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