Manchester City fans have been reacting to a post on Twitter which relays a report that claims the club will consider stepping up their interest in RB Leipzig attacker Dani Olmo if Riyad Mahrez leaves the club this summer.
The Citizens are understood to have turned down an £18m bid from Al-Ahli for Mahrez and they are expecting the Saudi Arabian club to return with an improved offer.
The 32-year-old winger has spent the last five seasons at the Etihad Stadium, recording 78 goals and 59 assists in 236 games, as well as winning 11 trophies including four Premier League titles.
Mahrez still has two years remaining on his Man City contract, but he is believed to be leaning towards a new experience in the Middle East and is said to have agreed personal terms with Al-Ahli.
With the long-term future of Mahrez at the Etihad uncertain, Football Insider reports that Pep Guardiola’s side have identified Spain international Olmo as a possible replacement.
The report adds that Guardiola and Man City chiefs have admired Olmo for some time, and the Citizens could firm up their long-term interest in the versatile Leipzig attacker if they agree to part ways with Mahrez.
Leipzig are said to be under no pressure to sell the 25-year-old, who signed a new four-year contract until June 2027 with the Bundesliga club at the beginning of last month.
The €40m-rated Spanish international brings a prolific attacking record, having scored 55 goals and provided 57 assists in 247 total club appearances since his rise to prominence at Dinamo Zagreb in 2015.
Last season, Olmo’s contributions were pivotal, with five goals and 11 assists across 31 appearances in all competitions for Leipzig.
The report shared on Twitter gathered a number of replies from a wide range of Man City supporters.
Not a good enough replacement imo
— Dom Caz (@GoonerDom0811) July 18, 2023
@ManCitty9320: “From Mahrez to Olmo? We fell off big time”
@_kendrickgh: “That must be a joke ryt”
@city_extra: “Not even a winger.”
@MisterCity19: “A good player, who I would like but I much rather have someone else who is a proper winger.”
@dontshootvinny: “I really like him to be fair. Not exactly like Mahrez but not bad considering the market.”
@TwoPhonesJones3: “I don’t care why so many are against it. He’s much more of a replacement for Gundo than Kovacic is..”
@jparkes1991: “He’s definitely a “Pep player” and he could be converted in to the ball retaining winger type, but I don’t see this as a realistic transfer..”
@guest905088491: “He will be a good replacement for Mahrez, he’s playstyle reminds me of young Bernardo. And the most important is he’s versatile too. Pep loves this kind of player. That’s why Bernardo was the priority right winger for us rather than Mahrez.”
