Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has identified Leicester City winger Riyad Mahrez as his top target for the summer
Italian publication Tuttomercatoweb have reported that Jurgen Klopp has made Riyad Mahrez a top priority for the summer, and is considering making a move for the Leicester City winger when the transfer window reopens in the summer.
Mahrez is experiencing a dip in form and fortunes this season, much like the entire Leicester City squad, as the Foxes battle hard to save themselves from an embarrassing relegation battle, only 9 ten months after famously laying their hands on the Premier League title last season.
Mahrez has bagged just four goals and three assists for Leicester so far this season. These numbers pale heavily in comparison to his exploits in 2015/16 when he led Leicester’s charge by scoring 17 goals and assisting 11 in the Premier League before being named as the league and PFA’s Player of the Season.
But despite losing his form for large parts of the campaign, Mahrez still remains one of the pivotal figures for the beleaguered champions as they strive to maintain their top-flight status. And the loss in form hasn’t detered clubs from following him, with Jurgen Klopp keen to sign him in the summer.
The Liverpool boss has seen his side lose form this year, dropping from title contenders to battling for the top 4, as they lie 5th in the table, a point behind Arsenal. A major factor in the recent downturn in fortunes has been attributed to lack in squad depth.
The Reds struggling to cover the gap left by Sadio Mane while he was on duty at the Africa Cup of Nations, and they came under fire from fans and pundits alike for not beefing up the squad in the winter transfer window.
As a result, attacking reinforcement has emerged as a top priority for the Merseysiders for the summer. Liverpool have already been linked with the likes of Demarai Gray and Hakim Ziyech, but Mahrez is certainly an upgrade on both of these players.
He will certainly solve one problem for Klopp – that of depth in his squad. And even though he hasn’t been at his best this season, Mahrez has shown with his directness, creativity and dangerous eye for goal that he has the potential to be a quality addition for any top side.
With the Liverpool manager making him a top target for the summer, it remains to be seen if the deal takes place when the transfer window opens at the end of the season.
