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Transfer talk: Leicester reject Man City bid for Mahrez

February 01, 2018 11:31 IST

Riyad Mahrez

IMAGE:  Leicester City's Riyad Mahrez arrives at the stadium. Photograph: Matthew Childs/Reuters.

Manchester City failed in an audacious transfer deadline day move for Leicester City midfielder Riyad Mahrez, British media reported on Wednesday.

 

The Leicester Mercury newspaper said the Foxes had turned down City's final bid of 65 million pounds ($92 million) plus an unnamed player for Mahrez, a deal that would have broken the Manchester club's transfer record.

The paper said the bid was below Leicester's valuation of the 26-year-old Algerian who reportedly put in a transfer request this week. He missed training on Tuesday and was not included in Leicester's squad for Wednesday's Premier League game at Everton.

It was the second disappointment for Mahrez on transfer deadline day. In August he was widely reported to be at an airport ready to fly to Europe if any clubs came in for him.

City's Mangala moves to Everton on loan

Everton have signed France centre back Eliaquim Mangala on loan until the end of the season from Manchester City subject to clearance from the Premier League.

Mangala found himself surplus to requirements at the league leaders, who broke their club record to sign Athletic Bilbao defender Aymeric Laporte, for a reported 57 million pounds ($81 million) fee.

"I am thrilled to have the opportunity to play for Everton and I cannot wait to pull on the royal blue jersey for the first time and give my all for the supporters," Mangala told Everton's website.

The 26-year-old, who joined City from Porto in 2014 and spent most of last season on loan in Valencia, has made nine league appearances this season, including five from the bench.

He is Everton's third signing of the January window, following the arrivals of winger Theo Walcott from Arsenal and striker Cenk Tosun from Besiktas.

Liverpool's Markovic joins Anderlecht on loan

Liverpool winger Lazar Markovic has joined Anderlecht on loan for the rest of the season, the English club said on Twitter.

Markovic has not featured for Liverpool this season and had also been linked with a loan move to Premier League side Swansea City.

The Serbia international joined Liverpool in 2014 and has made 34 appearances for the club, scoring three goals.

He has previously spent time on loan with Fenerbahce, Sporting Lisbon and Hull City.

Everton's Lookman joins Leipzig on loan

Everton winger Ademola Lookman has joined German Bundesliga side RB Leipzig on loan until the end of the season, the Premier League club said.

The 20-year-old has been a fringe player at Goodison Park this season, making 16 appearances and scoring two goals.

But Lookman is considered an outstanding prospect and impressed in the England Under-20 team that won the World Cup last year.

Lookman could make his Leipzig debut on Saturday at Borussia Monchengladbach.

Spurs sign Brazilian winger Moura from PSG

Tottenham Hotspur have signed Brazilian winger Lucas Moura from Paris St Germain, the English club said on their website.

The 25-year-old has joined for a fee of around 25 million pounds ($35.5 million) and could make his debut against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.

"I’m so, so happy," said Moura, who has won 30 caps and is in contention for a place in Brazil's World Cup squad. "It’s a new chapter in my life, a new challenge for me.

"I’ve joined a big club with big players and I look forward to playing and helping the team."

Moura has found it difficult to break into the PSG team since the arrivals of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe last year and has only made six substitute appearances in all competitions this season.

In the 2016-17 campaign he scored 12 goals in Ligue 1 and provided five assists. Overall, he netted 46 goals in 229 appearances for the French club.

At Spurs he will join up with former PSG team mate Serge Aurier, who made the same switch in August.

"Serge said a lot of good things about the club, about the coach, about the fans. He’s crazy! He's a very nice guy and an amazing player. I’m so happy to play with him again," Moura said.

Moura will also be eligible to play for Spurs in the Champions League.

Palace sign striker Sorloth on deadline day

Crystal Palace have signed striker Alexander Sorloth from Denmark's Midtjylland on a four-and-a-half-year contract on transfer deadline day, increasing competition for their misfiring Belgium target man Christian Benteke.

Sorloth has scored 15 goals in 26 games this season, while Benteke has managed only two so far, including the opener in Palace's 1-1 draw at West Ham United on Tuesday.

"It's a big club with ambition, a good club who takes good care of its players," Sorloth said. "It feels amazing, it's a dream come true to play in the Premier League. I've dreamt about this since I was six years old."

The 22-year-old will don the number nine shirt for Palace, who host Newcastle United in the league on Sunday.

Source: REUTERS
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