Manchester City make first move to sign Riyad Mahrez as Leicester City star edges closer to exit

MANCHESTER CITY are set to lodge a £34million bid for Leicester star Riyad Mahrez as Pep Guardiola aims to bolster his forward options.

The attacking midfielder was in scintillating form last season and was the driving force behind Leicester's title winning campaign with 17 goals claiming the PFA Players' Player of the Year in the process.

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Claudio Ranieri will be desperate to keep hold of his talisman after the departure of N'Golo Kante to Chelsea but knows he may be powerless to resist City's interest.

, Leicester supporters should brace themselves for the departure of after the 25-year-old rejected the chance to sign a new contract at the Foxes.

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Mahrez still has three years left on his current £35,000-a-week deal and it is believed that Leicester will want in the region of £45m to let him go.

City boss Guardiola is looking to add new faces to his ageing squad and has already signed the likes of Ilkay Gundogan and Nolito.

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However they may face stiff competition from European giants Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain who are also thought to be keen.