Mickyblueeyes

I'm sorry but isn't your post contradictory in a sense. Your final paragraph basically sets out why the owners are clever it what they are doing. Any player worth replacing Mahrez will not be considerably more expensive to City than had they gone in for him without selling Mahrez. They need to play hardball because their prized asset is be sought by a club whose wealth is widely known and acknowledged. This is the exact position they'll find themselves in when they seek Riyad's replacement. The valuation, the club have given Mahrez in this window is not far fetched. The player had not been priced out of the market at all. He is, in today's market an £80million player. If you dispute see his stats, his influence on his current team and his likely influence on his new team. Man City, though wealthy, are a new player in the elite club. Their transfer dealings over the last few years show this. Rewind 18 months. It took them that long to realise that Sanchez was not in their price range. Compare that to Man U. They went in, assessed the value. Highlighted Arsenals need and got the deal done. Organic growth of genuine big club compare to a club who have won the lottery. Man City have a lot of growing up to do, to be truly great. Our owners, though it does not seem that way at present have done what is best for the club. We cannot if we want organic growth succumb to player demand and the flash of desirous offers. Mahrez is worth less than the centre back they bought the week before - someone needs to give them a slap if they truly think that. It wasn't that long ago that Man City got laughed off the negotiation table when they first made an attempt to become a big club. They persevered and players came. The owners backing, the same will happen here. For now though, you want the clubs prized asset you pay what the market demands. Simple as. Selling Mahrez on the cheap, though they will look like "nice guys" will not help the club in the future. The old saying: no publicity is bad publicity. Applauding the owners is one thing. Thinking this move they've made is a stand off with sheikh mansour is naive. He clearly needs to invest in more appropriate negotiators! The move was to preserve the status of the club and its assets. You want our players, ain't no cheap deal on the table. It's taken Southampton nearly four years to realise that! Being nice certainly didnt didn't help the club when they allowed Steve Walsh to go with blessing - in fact it ****ed up our entire recruitment plans for that summer.

After the day I've had, I'll have whatever you've been smoking please. ?

This criticism of fans of this club criicising it's most gifted player is getting old. As if it's something only associated with this club. Go onto any fans forum and you will find the same. Chelsea fans criticise Hazard, Arsenal fans use to criticise Sanchez, Man City fans criticise De Bruyne and United fans when they won the treble criticise at some point every single player of that squad. Its football, it's what fans do. The better the player, the harsher the criticism because the higher the expectancy! It's the way of any sports fans make up. Let someone outside criticise that same player and it's usually met with an avalanche of abuse. Its a weak argument. I love Mahrez. My favourite player, quite easily in my top three of all time city players (JJ when he first broke through was probably the only one who got me off my seat in the same way). However, that does not mean he doesn't warrant criticism at times.

Issy Musset. LOL. Cheered me right up that. Followed by a "we" as in their is a genuine care for the club by the original poster. You support Mahrez, embrace it. Pretending to give two shits about Leicester is not going to add anymore value to your posts. It is what it is. The release clause does not really help and will probably infuriate matters further. The club want more than his admirers are willing to pay, at present. Leicester seem to be the only ones expected to sacrifice here. Mahrez needs to honour his contract. Man City, with money need to be less tinpot. They did the same with Sanchez. Man U came in, assessed his availability and got the deal done - that's what Man City need to do. Club need to set out what is acceptable. Read an article today that Salah should be £100 million - how is £80million for Mahrez unreasonable. If Man City or another team pay that, he gets his deal - we believe he is worth that. It's up to him to convince his "admirers" of the same. The only people who seem to understate Mahrez value is those not associated with Leicester. That includes Mahrez himself.

That first half performance alone is enough to be excited about. Yes, it is one game and yes there is a long way to go before we can truly see what life is like without Riyad. However, in Claude Puel we have a proper manager. Someone who will "manage" the football side with a safe pair of hands and get us playing a brand of football which at times will be exciting to watch. Disapointed not to have put these to bed. We were a class or two above them. However, we are and under Puel will continue to move forward. Cannot wait to see who he adds in the summer. For now though, no reason why the top 7 is not achievable.

I know I'm a Leicester and have the tendency to get over excited at times. However, some of the football in that first half is the best I have ever seen us play. Same intensity second half. kelechi needs one to go in and he will fly.

Good line up. Now make it look as good on the pitch as it does on paper.

I'm split between taking the risk of starting Diabate or leaving him on the bench. Part of me thinks being at home, it seems the perfect opportunity to unleash an unknown quantity and reap the benefits. The other part can see it being too soon and could've a detrimental effect on the team and player if it went wrong. Without Mahrez, we need creativity from other parts. One of Silva or Iborra needs to start with Ndidi. Love James but against Swansea, at home, we need to break them down. This team, for the last few years has responded well to adversity. I expect the same today. Lets win this and shut the idiots up again please.

the irony in this post. We are unrealistic for asking for market value of a former PFA player of the year but your non existent, owned by a cake baker farmers club are justified in asking for market value for your most prized asset. Behave yourself. By your logic, if we came for Maddison, you should simply be appreciative that a far bigger club knocked on your door. £5 million and no more. The level of stupidity of other teams fans amazes me at times.

I stopped reading after the moron compared Slimani's loan move to Newcastle to Kante leaving for Chelsea.

Let's be honest. Mahrez is not suffering from the genuine illness of depression. He is being a ****.

Having Kia in his corner wasn't great for this window! The thing Leicester has that outsiders, like you seem to forget is that their are funds available to try to replace Mahrez (though, that is not easy). You do not achieve what you want by pushing a billionaire into a corner. Mahrez stands to lose a lot more than City.

Well no. If you want to look at it purely on financials. The club spent £400k plus wages and have made this back on the premier league win and the champions league campaign. Purely on financials, we do not need to sell. Mahrez on the other hand will lose sharpness, usual progression and if he carries on the exposure he has worked so hard to accumulate. The club will not be held to ransom. If Man City want him, pay for him in accordance with current market going rate. Otherwise, Riyad Mahrez, in two years will be signing for West Brom or Stoke or if he is really lucky, newly promoted Ipswich. We we will get what we want because, for once, this tiny little football club can flex its financial muscle.

Have you heard of Pierre Van Hooijdonk? Maybe Saido Berahino? There is two ways this can go for Mahrez. In case of Van Dijk, Sanchez, Coutinho and Auba. Players allowed and respected their clubs to benefit considerably in order for the deal to "get done" on all sides. In Mahrez case, at present, he is not interested in letting Leicester benefit from the deal to a level you should expect for a player of his Calibre. You cannot class him in that ilk of player and than blame our owners for request top drawer payment? It makes no sense and shows a level of stupidity. Where a player is not interested in understanding the importance of getting the best deal for his current club, it normally turns out like the Van Hooijdonk/Berahino situations - not good for anyone. Leicester are the only party who have acted with integrity throughout this current saga. I, for one am proud of that. Mahrez and Man City need to get their finger out, if they want a deal in the summer get it agreed in the four months you have from now until the summer. Not leave it it till the day before the end of the summer window and than decide you can't afford the money.

? I think he is worth £4.5bn i wish I was "not that high level of business".

The anger is not I don't think because a player wants to leave us. After Heskey took the Liverpool offer shortly after that Sunderland game hurt a lot more. The issue here is, that it's only us, in Mahrez, the outside footballing world and the general neutral view, to blame. thats what pisses me off. Mahrez wants to go go because he believes he is a class above us. Fine Man City want him because (according to reports) he is their long term future plan for the left wing. The pundits want him gone because he DESERVES to play at a higher level. Despite all this. Despite telling us he is something special. Despite the fact the market keeps making drastic upward movements, we are told to be appreciative of any which offer that comes in? For **** sake, in the summer, some told us £32 million (the same price we were being asked to pay for ****ing Deeney) was a good deal. We share are very little if no blame here. He has been available for two transfer windows now. There has been 6 months since the summer. We are not the cheap option. The parties to blame here are Man City and Riyad Mahrez. So before he comes out and questions our behaviour he should question why he is the cheap 6th choice and not the top of the pecking order (could it be that you stole a living for 8 months of last year precious?) if if he plays for Leicester again and applies himself appropriately. Of course I will support him but there is no reason to "feel sorry" for anyone in this apart from "little old Leicester" for having the audacity to grow some financial balls.

Does anyone have a stream?

Oh flipping hell Riyad. Very down, desperate, war with Leicester - some of the statements. We will sell! We are negotiating. However, due to the fact that you keep whoring yourself out, it's effecting our genuine negotiating position. In today's market a goal scoring creative midfielder of your ilk is worth £90-£150 million. Stop whoring yourself out and this will go a lot smoother. As for The Algerian fans acting like your pimps. The Algerian fans can **** off too. Seriously wanted him to leave on good note. Now he can become the next Saido Berahino and watch his idols every week. Fact is, he has not justified the hundred grand a week we pay, he took last year off and we still sang his stupid name. Its YOUR so called admirers (who have you down as 6th/7th choice on their shopping list dickhead by the way) that is the problem. Not my club. So behave yourself and sort out your groupies too. Knob. (happy you stayed- you make transfer deadline interesting?)

Quincy Promes. Available, for £30 million. Adds quality. Only fear is our last signing from a Russian club was a real disapointment.

I think his ambition is far beyond the FA Cup and the Europa League. He wants the champions league. You can't blame him for wanting the move. It's the best side in the league with the best manager in world. Hell, if I was at City I would want to leave to play for Pep. It's just the timing. Had we had a week to put together a deal (like we nearly did for Silva) it would not hurt as much.

Are you Mahrez agent that got sacked? That's the dumbest advice ever. Please don't have kids. If he plays for 3/4 more years at Leicester and than leaves on a free, he will be 30 which means his own appeal will decrease considerably. The player wants to go, the club wants its price. The market, the importance of the asset and the timing adds to this. Absolute moron this lad. Plus, if he gives us the "25% like Sanchez" for four more years that would be fantastic!

If he wants to go and they pay the money, get it done and quickly. I love Riyad, would love him to see the season through and back his ability/agent to the get the move when the club have the time to replace him. However, this is now turning into a complete farce. My excitement now turns to who we replace him with the £90 million that will come in ?

It really is poor reporting. People like Murphy, Savage etc need to stay relevant/controversial. There playing careers were mediocre so it isn't a "coup" for the media outlets to secure them as pundits. They fill a gap but are quite easily replaced. If the BBC had the opportunity to get Henry or Sky had the opportunity to get Shearer, that would be a coup based on their reputations and the interest their playing career has generated for them to "pull in viewers". The lesser players make up for mediocre careers by being controversial and having a dig at the "smaller clubs". if we finish 6th (above Arsenal) and win the FA cup, is a move to Arsenal that much more appealing in reality compared to Murphy's interpretation as to what should be the countries big 4/6 clubs? Of course not but it won't stop him having a dig. Same occurred with Merson after Ranieri was sacked. Poor footballers, got lucky etc etc, if you hear his comments now, they are far more complimentary - however he used the media hype surrounding the sacking to get pages and remain relevant. I would take most of what the mediocre footballers of their time say with a pinch of salt. Controversial agents In their ear telling them to remain relevant. Mahrez may leave but only an absolute ninkampoop can take a young player starting over a first team regular, in a FA Cup game against lower league opposition, as any form of indication.

A lower league team all the way to the semi finals please. Would like Cov for obvious reasons but wouldn't mind Millwall for a bit of pay back for last year.

Wouldn't mind if that becomes Amartey's last appearance for us.