This is an interesting development.
Liverpool have reportedly directly contacted Leicester City to tell them they have no intention of trying to sign Riyad Mahrez during the January transfer window.
Reports emerged on Friday evening linking the Algerian playmaker with a move to Anfield. According to L’Equipe, the Reds had identified the former PFA Player of the Year as the ideal candidate to replace Barcelona-bound Philippe Coutinho.
However, in an intriguing twist, Press Association reporter Carl Markham – who covers Liverpool and Everton – has countered the report from the French news outlet by saying the following:
“Understand LFC have contacted LCFC directly to tell them they have no interest in winger Riyad Mahrez – among a number of first-teamers left out of the Foxes’ FA Cup team at Fleetwood – and speculation is complete fabrication.'”
Understand @LFC have contacted @LCFC directly to tell them they have no interest in winger Riyad Mahrez – among a number of first-teamers left out of the Foxes' FA Cup team at Fleetwood – and speculation is "complete fabrication"
— Carl Markham (@carlmarkham) January 6, 2018
While it would be understandable to ask why Liverpool would contact Leicester to say they’re not interested in Mahrez, as Markham explains in a later tweet, it’s most likely a result of the fallout from the Virgil van Dijk situation in the summer. Liverpool signed the Dutch defender in a club record deal last week but escaped punishment in June for allegedly tapping him up while he was still at Southampton.
In an attempt to avoid a repeat, the Reds have now reportedly moved to distance themselves of any report linking them with a move for Mahrez. The Leicester winger expressed a desire to leave the King Power Stadium in the summer but, after failing to secure a move away, has been re-integrated into the Foxes first-team and has produced some sparkling form in recent weeks, perhaps explaining why he is, once again, popping up in the gossip columns.
Mahrez would be an astute replacement for Coutinho, who is definitely heading for Barcelona after news broke on Saturday evening that a deal had been agreed between the two clubs.
Coutinho is still widely expected to depart Anfield before the end of the month but it seems that Mahrez will not be his successor as a key creative force in Jurgen Klopp’s side.
