Man City star offered eye-watering £85million contract to ditch Guardiola in statement move

Saudi Arabian side Al Ahli are reportedly willing to offer Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez £85million to ditch his current side and take up a two-year deal.

Mahrez has had a great season for City. Indeed, the winger has scored 15 goals and provided 13 assists in all competitions over the course of the campaign.

That includes three goals and two assists in nine Champions League games, on the way to the final, which City are favourites to win.

However, Saudi Arabian side Al Ahli are attempting to lure Mahrez away from the Etihad. ESPN reports they’re willing to offer him €100million (£85.5million approx) plus bonuses for a two-year deal, with the option of a third year.

This comes after club president Waleed Muaath discussed the deals of several players while in London this week.

ESPN suggests Mahrez is ‘thought to be open’ to moving to Saudi Arabia. However, it’s unclear whether or not City would allow it to happen, and the fee they’d ask for if they did.

They’d surely be able to ask for a lucrative sum given the money Mahrez will reportedly make personally.

Saudi Arabian sides are showing their power when it comes to luring players in at the moment. Cristiano Ronaldo moved to Al Nassr during the season, with former Real Madrid teammate Karim Benzema joining Al Ittihad recently.

N’Golo Kante has also been the subject of reports over a move to the latter club, with insider Ben Jacobs recently stating it is a “done deal”.

Mahrez moving would be a huge statement. All of the aforementioned players are either well into their 30s or in a tough situation at their current club.

While Mahrez is 32, he could soon win the Champions League, having played a big role. He’s been a fixture of the City side for the five years he’s been there, and has directly contributed to 137 goals in 236 games.

As such, it would be a shock if he was ready to give that up to play at a level of football that is not up to the same standard as a top-five European league.

It will certainly be interesting to see what he opts for after the Champions League final, when the report states the situation is ‘likely to be addressed’.

READ MORE: Ranking the 15 Champions League final performances by Premier League sides