Report: Leicester's Mahrez submits transfer request amid interest from City

Manchester City, fresh off signing defender Aymeric Laporte for just under £60 million, may be on the verge of breaking its own club-transfer record twice within the space of 24 hours.

After news broke Tuesday that Leroy Sane will miss up to six weeks because of ligament damage in his ankle, reports indicate City has turned its attention to Riyad Mahrez, whom Leicester City apparently considers to be worth as much as £90 million.

In response to the alleged interest from the Premier League leader, Mahrez handed in an official transfer request in order to expedite a move to join Manchester City before Wednesday's deadline, Simon Stone of BBC Sport reports.

Leicester, however, is reluctant to sell, given that the transfer window closes Wednesday, and is expected to withstand pressure to part with the Algerian unless City submits a "crazy" offer, according to Matt Law of The Telegraph.

John Percy of The Telegraph adds that even a bid worth £60 million, which exceeds the club-record fee City just paid Athletic Club for Laporte, would be "instantly dismissed."

It's believed Leicester's valuation is substantially higher following the lucrative transfers of Virgil van Dijk (£75 million) and Philippe Coutinho (£142 million) earlier in January. Percy suggests Leicester won't consider selling the former PFA Player of the Year until it receives bids in excess of £90 million.

Leicester's asking price is ultimately expected to deter City's attempt to bring Mahrez, who handed in a failed transfer request last summer, to the Etihad Stadium this month.