Manchester City have reportedly rejected an £18m bid from Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli for winger Riyad Mahrez.
The Algeria international has scored 78 goals and provided 59 assists in 236 appearances for the Citizens across all competitions since joining the club from Leicester City in 2018.
Mahrez has won 11 trophies during his time at the Etihad Stadium and he helped Pep Guardiola's side win a historic Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League treble last season, contributing with 15 goals and 13 assists in 47 matches.
However, Mahrez was heavily rotated by Guardiola in 2022-23 and he completed the full 90 minutes on just 11 occasions in the Premier League, while he only played for 11 minutes in the Champions League from the quarter-final stage to the final.
The 32-year-old still has two years remaining on his contract at the Etihad, but the winger has recently been the subject of speculation amid interest from Saudi Arabia.
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A recent report claims that Al-Ahli are closing in on the signing of Mahrez, who has reached an agreement with the Saudi club over personal terms.
Al-Ahli are understood to have scheduled a medical for the experienced winger earlier this week, although Man City were still waiting to receive a formal offer.
However, the Daily Mail claims that the Saudi Pro League side have now submitted an opening bid for Mahrez worth €21m (£18m), but that has been turned down by the Citizens.
The report adds that Man City are awaiting an improved offer from Al-Ahli, who are one of four clubs along with Al-Ittihad, Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr that were taken over by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund last month.
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Mahrez is the latest high-profile name competing in a top European league who is wanted by Al-Ahli, who have already completed the marquee signings of Edouard Mendy and Roberto Firmino from Chelsea and Liverpool respectively this summer.
Al-Ahli are also understood to be pushing to sign Newcastle United winger Allan Saint-Maximin, and it remains unknown whether their pursuit of Mahrez would have an impact on a deal for the Frenchman.
Man City would seemingly be reluctant to lose Mahrez at this stage when a number of other first-team stars are facing an uncertain future at the club.
Bernardo Silva is another who has been linked with a possible big-money move to Saudi Arabia amid interest from Al-Hilal, while Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona have also been credited with an interest.
Kyle Walker is allegedly set to hold crunch talks with Guardiola over his future this week after learning of interest from Bayern Munich, while the likes of Aymeric Laporte, Joao Cancelo and Kalvin Phillips have all been linked with a possible exit from the Etihad this summer.
Oliver Thomas
