Why Leicester must push through and sign this £15m-rated attacker as a sweetener in Mahrez deal

According to a report by the Daily Mail, Leicester City are eyeing a summer move for £15m-rated Manchester City starlet Patrick Roberts. The Foxes are inching closer to losing star winger Riyad Mahrez to Pep Guardiola’s side in the summer transfer window and it does make sense for them to demand the services of a promising star such as Roberts.

At 21 years of age, the former Fulham star possesses exceptional skills but will the promising youngster manage to fill the void created by the departure of Mahrez?

Roberts has failed to nail his spot in the first team setup at City so far but having spent the last two-and-a-half seasons on loan at Celtic, it is safe to suggest that the youngster seems like a good option for Leicester.

He amassed 78 appearances in all competitions for the Scottish giants during his time north of the border, scoring 18 times and providing 26 assists.

These numbers are impressive for a young player. But should Leicester be worried about his lack of experience in the English top-flight?

Straight off the bat, if the Foxes manage to secure this deal, it goes without saying that they will have one of the brightest young talents in England in their ranks.

He might not immediately deliver world-class performances but if developed and honed in the right manner, Roberts could go on to become a sensation at the King Power Stadium. And with a manager of Claude Puel’s stature to guide him, the former England Under-20 international could truly showcase his talents.

Now, losing Mahrez will be nothing short of a blow for Leicester. The Algerian winger is one of the most talented players in the Premier League and replacing him will be anything but a cakewalk.

That said, one must bear in mind that Leicester will not have to pay a fee to land Roberts. They will receive a hefty fee from the Citizens for Mahrez and they will also get the skilled starlet as a part of the deal.

Expecting Roberts to hit the ground running from the start would be unwise but if Leicester invest money in purchasing a replacement for Mahrez – along with Roberts acting as a deputy – it will be a smart move by the club.

When it comes to the question of whether or not Roberts would fit at Leicester, it looks like we will have to wait and watch. His performances with Celtic were quite impressive and his stats do not do enough justice to the kind of influence and impact he had in Scotland.

Under any circumstances, signing a player such as Roberts will be a good piece of business and hence, Leicester must push for this deal to go through.