Chelsea officially announced the signing of England midfielder Ross Barkley from Everton for the next five seasons and a half, until 2023. This signing is sure to make us more competitive in the Champions League as we will be playing against Barcelona.
Barkley had been suffering from a hamstring injury which made him miss all of this season so far but the midfielder is ready to return soon. However, the Premier League champions are not done signing players this winter as it seems like they are interested in Leicester City’s Riyad Mahrez, according to Italian news outlet Calciomercato.
The report suggests that Barcelona have also expressed some interest in the Leicester player and that they will now have to face-off against Chelsea in the transfer market if they want Mahrez. After his brilliant performances in the title-winning season for the Foxes, Mahrez went off the boil a little last season, but his return to form this term has meant that all the top clubs are interested in him again.
On top of that, Mahrez has a Premier League winner’s medal, PFA Players of the Year award and African Player of the Year award in his trophy cabinet. Above all, the Algerian hasn’t played in the Champions League this season, so if he makes the switch soon to Stamford Bridge, he would be able to face the Catalan giants in the last 16 of the Champions League.
But with Barcelona also interested in the winger, it could be vice-versa and Mahrez could line up against Antonio Conte’s men! However, Conte would love to give Barcelona the taste of their own medicine by snapping up Mahrez under their nose.
The Blues are desperate to add attacking quality to their team, and Mahrez appears to be one of the more exciting targets in the winter transfer window. But despite suggestions that a bid for Algeria international is imminent, Leicester boss Claude Puel maintains that his man is not leaving.
He has told the 26-year-old to ignore all the talk surrounding his future and to remain committed to helping the Foxes until the summer.
Puel said: “I think it is important he keeps this focus and concentration until the end of the season. I am happy with him and I think he is enjoying his football. He is happy to play with this team.
“We are trying to develop good play on the floor and he likes this. He has good results with assists and goals in recent games.”
Mahrez has been producing his best form in recent weeks and if Conte wants the wide man in January, our board will have to pay over the top.