Manchester City Transfer News: Riyad Mahrez Ends Transfer Request Amid Rumours

Leicester City winger Riyad Mahrez has confirmed the transfer request he submitted in January has long been cancelled, although he's unsure of where his future lies this summer amid revived links with Manchester City. 

The Citizens were favourites to sign Mahrez if he left the King Power Stadium in the winter, and he asked to leave Leicester, but he told Sky Sports News that request to depart is long over at least:

"It has gone. It was in January, it's another transfer window. I am still here—I don't want to put a lot of things in my head. I am still in contract with Leicester so at the moment I am here and we will see."

Leicester manager Claude Puel reacted to Mahrez's admission regarding his immediate future with the Foxes, per Sky Sports News reporter Rob Dorsett:

The Algeria international has been a frequent feature in transfer headlines since he played a starring role in Leicester's historic Premier League title triumph in 2015-16, but City now appear closest to completing a deal.

Such was certainly the case in January when the Citizens had no fewer than four bids for Mahrez rejected, per the Sky Sports News report, leading the player to go missing from Leicester training for a week.

Mahrez gave the impression on Friday that he would be interested in a move if City were to come calling again this summer: 

"At that time I handed a transfer [request] because I had offers from Manchester City so obviously I wanted to go. But now I am still at Leicester.

"With me, especially, you never know what is happening. Every time I have to go but I am still here.

"I don't really want to talk about [whether] I am going, or staying. I just want to finish the last three games. We will see what will happen for me."

Goal's Etihad correspondent Sam Lee also recently backed up speculation and said Pep Guardiola's side remain interested:

Mahrez has scored 10 goals and recorded eight assists in 33 Premier League appearances this season and has managed to maintain a good level of consistency despite constant transfer distractions in the past two years.

There is a question as to how he would compete with the likes of Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sane, Bernardo Silva and Gabriel Jesus, although one fan told BBC 606 he's of the necessary quality to play at the top:

Mahrez would appear to suit Guardiola's preference for winger in terms of ball-playing ability and resembles Silva in terms of style, supremely confident with both and favourable dragging the ball in off the right flank.

One thing that seems clear is Mahrez remains open to an Etihad switch despite withdrawing his transfer request some months ago, although a new transfer window brings with it new obstacles to traverse.