Liverpool bergerak cepat mencari pengganti Philippe Coutinho yang hengkang ke Barcelona. (Reuters/Carl Recine) Liverpool bergerak cepat mencari pengganti Philippe Coutinho yang hengkang ke Barcelona. (Reuters/Carl Recine)
Riyad Mahrez (kiri) dianggap memiliki karakter permainan seperti Coutinho. (REUTERS / Darren Staples) Riyad Mahrez (kiri) dianggap memiliki karakter permainan seperti Coutinho. (REUTERS / Darren Staples)
Jakarta, CNN Indonesia -- Bintang Leicester City, Riyad Mahrez akan menjalani tes medis di Liverpool, Minggu (7/1) waktu setempat. Biaya perekrutan Mahrez dari The Foxes mencapai £48 juta atau setara dengan Rp875 miliar untuk menggantikan peran Philippe Coutinho.Pemain asal Aljazair itu memiliki karakter permainan hampir mirip dengan Coutinho. Hanya saja, Mahrez lebih sering bermain di sisi kanan.Media asal Qatar, beIN Sports mengklaim, The Reds telah mencapai kata sepakat untuk memboyong Mahrez ke Anfield. Di Liverpool, Mahrez akan menandatangani kontrak selama empat setengah musim ke depan.Pemain 26 tahun itu tampil sensasional bersama Leicester dalam dua musim belakangan. Menurut The Sun, pada musim ini, mantan pemain Le Havre itu telah mencetak tujuh gol dan memberikan 10 assist di Liga Primer Inggris.Petinggi Anfield memang tidak ingin membuang-buang waktu untuk mendapatkan pengganti Coutinho yang hengkang ke Barcelona dengan banderol £142 juta atau lebih dari Rp2,5 triliun.Hanya saja, kabar Mahrez akan tes medis di Liverpool dibantah manajer Leicester, Claude Puel. Puel mengklaim, bahwa Mahrez akan tetap bersama The Foxes sampai akhir musim."Saya telah mengatakan, bahwa saya ingin mempertahankan semua pemain terbaik di skuat ini. Riyad adalah pemain berharga bagi tim,” ujar Puel seperti dikutip dari The Sun."Ketika saya membahas hal-hal dengan dia, dia telah menunjukkan sikap yang baik, dia menikmati sepak bolanya. Dia adalah pemain yang bahagia. Ini adalah hal yang baik."Manajer asal Perancis itu yakin, Mahrez senang bermain dengan rekan setimnya. Pemain kelahiran Sarcelles, Perancis tersebut juga dinilai telah memperbaiki statistiknya dengan mencetak gol dan memberikan assist."Di bursa transfer, orang bisa membuat spekulasi tentang pemain dan transfer. Tapi saya tidak khawatir, karena saya menyukai sang pemain,” Puel menuturkan.
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Liverpool are reportedly closing in on signing Riyad Mahrez. (Reuters)
Liverpool are closing in on a £49 million deal for Leicester City winger Riyad Mahrez, according to reports.
Earlier on Saturday, Liverpool and Barcelona agreed a £142m transfer fee for Philippe Coutinho, who has now travelled to Spain to finalise his move.
beIN Sports claim that Liverpool are now in the process of signing Mahrez and will pay €55m (£49m) for the Algeria international.
The report also claims that the 26-year-old will undergo a medical on Sunday and has agreed a four-and-a-half-year contract with Jurgen Klopp‘s side.
Mahrez is due to undergo a medical on Sunday. (AFP/Getty Images)
Chelsea and Arsenal have also been linked with a move for Mahrez, with Leicester City open to selling the midfielder if they received an acceptable bid.
Roma had also wanted Mahrez in the summer transfer window but Leicester rejected their £35m offer.
The Algerian was one of Leicester’s star players in their title-winning season two years ago, while this term he has scored seven goals and registered seven assists in 22 Premier League appearances.
Mahrez was also linked with Arsenal and Chelsea. (Getty Images)
Liverpool had also targeted a move for Thomas Lemar this month but Monaco insisted this week that the France international would not be allowed to leave before the end of the campaign.
Klopp’s side had attempted to sign Lemar in the closing stages of the summer transfer window but the Ligue 1 champions refused all offers, including one from Arsenal.
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Riyad Mahrez has scored four goals in his last seven league games (Picture: REUTERS)
Southampton boss Claude Puel has insisted he wants Riyad Mahrez to stay at Leicester City this January.
The Algerian has been the subject of intense transfer speculation in recent weeks with reports Liverpool and Arsenal are trying to lure him away from the King Power Stadium.
It was even claimed on Saturday night that Mahrez was on the verge of a switch to Liverpool to replace Philippe Coutinho, who is now a Barcelona player.
Despite the persistent links to other clubs, Puel has warned his goalscorer he needs to remain focused.
‘I am happy with him and I think he is enjoying his football,’ Puel said on Saturday when asked about Mahrez.
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‘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.
‘I think it is important he keeps this focus and concentration until the end of the season.’
Claude Puel wants to keep Mahrez (Picture: Getty)
Liverpool need a replacement for Philippe Coutinho (Picture: AP)
Mahrez has rediscovered his form this season with eight goals and eight assists in 24 appearances.
The 26-year-old is thought to be keen on a move this January, but has not spoken out on his future.
Mahrez has remained a key member of Leicester’s side, despite seeing his sparkling form drop off since the Foxes’ remarkable Premier League title-winning season two years ago.
Arsenal has failed in the past to sign Mahrez while Liverpool will want to make another statement in the January window after angering fans by selling Coutinho.
Liverpool supporters have questioned the timing of Coutinho’s departure and are eager to see a playmaker come in to replace their departed talisman.
Mahrez could cost upwards of £55million in the current market, and Liverpool will surely be asked to pay over the odds after getting £144m for Coutinho.
Riyad Mahrez is edging closer to Liverpool but rival fans are furious
Leicester ace Mahrez has been repeatedly linked with a move away from the King Power Stadium after their fairytale Premier League title win in 2016.
But after Barcelona’s £142million move for Philippe Coutinho, Liverpool have targeted Mahrez as his replacement.
And beIN Sports claim the Algerian international will undergo a medical with the Reds on Sunday.
However, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea supporters are devastated Mahrez is edging closer to Anfield.
“Mahrez To Liverpool gutted it so tbh… Bale or Lemar need to come in! #MUFC,” one fan wrote on Twitter.
Another said: “This is becoming a joke now! We are letting Liverpool get Riyad Mahrez a needed player at arsenal. We’re not evening trying to get him, i’m very worried for next season now if we don’t sign anyone big. This is a big opportunity being missed #Arsenal #transfercentre #COYG #AFC.”
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