Time Line

May 30, 2017: Mahrez releases statement Riyad Mahrez releases a statement in which he announces that he has told Leicester City he wants to leave and "move on to a new experience". Leicester do not want to sell and will only consider letting Mahrez go if they receive offers of around £50m for the former PFA player of the year.

May 31, 2017: Arsenal and Monaco early front-runners Arsenal and Monaco are established as the early bookmakers' favourites to sign Mahrez, amid reports that Arsene Wenger could be lining up a £40m bid. Monaco are as short as 8/11 with some bookies, while Arsenal are at 2/1. There is still a strong chance Mahrez could stay, though. The odds for Mahrez to remain at Leicester range from 6/1 to 2/1.

June 1, 2017: Mahrez linked to Barcelona Not for the first time, Mahrez makes front-page news in Barcelona with reports in Spanish outlet Don Balon claiming the Catalan giants are ready to make a move for the wantaway star. There had been reports in March that Barcelona had wanted the City winger. However, sources close to the club tell the Mercury that Barcelona do not, and have never, wanted to sign Mahrez.

June 3, 2017: Wenger confirms Arsenal interest Arsenal manager admits a move for Riyad Mahrez 'could happen' but says he has 'not yet' bid for the wantaway winger. "Have we made a bid for him? No. Not yet. 'Not yet' means it could happen, it could not happen," said Wenger. Classic Arsene, stirring the pot.

June 8, 2017: Chelsea eye up move? Antonio Conte's side are the next to be linked with Mahrez, with the potential of the winger following in the footsteps of N'Golo Kante, who left for Chelsea last summer. These reports seemed speculative at best, perhaps sparked by the footage of Mahrez describing Chelsea as an "incredible club. A real club" ahead of Leicester's game at Man City, the day after Chelsea won the title.

July 4, 2017: Bookmakers' odds tumble on Mahrez to Arsenal Looks like Mahrez is DEFINITELY on his way to the Gunners, if the bookies are anything to go by. The odds on a Mahrez move to Arsenal continue to drop and are as short as 1/12 on for a move before deadline day on August 31. However, various sources pour cold water on the claims with the France Football journalist Nabil Djellit, who is well-connected with the Mahrez camp, saying “Arsenal are one of many clubs interested, it is no more than that.” The Mercury also understands that City still have had no bid from Arsenal or any other team.

July 7, 2017: Shakespeare confirms 'no bids' as Mahrez returns to training Mahrez began pre-season training still a Leicester player as the squad returned to Belvoir Drive to prepare for the start of the new season. Footage of the winger suggests he is not all that keen to be there... Despite all the speculation, City boss Craig Shakespeare confirms there have been "no bids" for Mahrez, and reminds the winger that he must remain "professional and committed".

July 15, 2017: Leicester reject £20m bid from Roma Sources in Italy tell the Mercury that Roma have made their first move for Mahrez, seeing their initial £20m bid rejected. That's not at all surprising, considering that offer is less than half Leicester's £50m valuation for the former PFA player of the year and Ballon d'Or nominee. Will they come back again?

July 19, 2017: Roma coach praises Mahrez Mahrez shines during the first half of Leicester's match against West Brom, scoring a trademark individual goal to equalise for Leicester. City boss Shakespeare says Mahrez's performance shows just why the club are keen to keep hold of the winger, despite his desire to leave. Meanwhile, Roma coach Eusebio Di Francesco says that Mahrez "has the characteristics" to play for his club.

July 20, 2017: Tottenham 'monitoring' Mahrez situation Tottenham have asked to be ‘kept informed’ of Riyad Mahrez’s situation at Leicester City, according to reports. Spurs are reportedly monitoring Mahrez but the Evening Standard claim that City would have to lower their £50million valuation of the former PFA player of the year for them to become seriously interested. Tottenham have been mentioned previously as admirers of Mahrez, with reports that Leicester rejected a bid from the London club in January.

July 21-22, 2017: Shakespeare confirms Roma bid rejected, Top blasts offer Shakespeare confirms Leicester rejected Roma's £20m bid immediately as it was too low. So insulting was the offer, that the club's vice-chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha could not even bring himself to class it as a "real offer". "I saw reports say that 'the offer's not good enough'," said Top. "Actually, there's no offer at all. Or, if there is one, it will be lower than those expensive done deals for players that never won the PFA, no Champions League stint, never been on Ballon d'Or shortlist."

July 29, 2017: Leicester reject 'take-it-or-leave-it' bid Monchi confirms in a press conference that Roma have made a second offer for Mahrez understood to be worth around €35million, about £32m. “We’ve made two offers, the second is fair and then we stopped," he said. "There are no percentages, the deal will get over the line or it won’t." Leicester reject it.

Aug 31, 2017: Mahrez leaves Algeria training camp Deadline Day. And it all starts to get wierd. Mahrez is allowed to leave his Algeria training camp to go and 'formalise a move' to a new club. No one really knows where Mahrez has gone, with reports he is waiting at a European airport just in case he gets the call. It never comes. Mahrez remains at City.

Dec 12, 2017: Mahrez reveals move to Arsenal was 'blocked' In an interview with the Daily Mail, Mahrez reveals how he had held talks with Arsenal over a possible move last summer. He added that City had said that if an appropriate bid was submitted there would be no problem, but Mahrez then accused City of blocking any move. “'They didn't want to sell me. They said, 'Yes, no problem if something comes up', but behind the scenes they were blocking stuff."

Jan 4, 2018: Mahrez 'happy at Leicester' City manager Claude Puel insists he has spoken to Mahrez about his future and the winger has not said he wants to leave. “When I discuss things with him he has shown a good attitude, he is enjoying his football. He is a happy player. This is a good thing. No (hasn’t said he wants to leave). He is happy with the squad." The City manager would repeat this on countless occasions throughout January.

Jan 7, 2018: Mahrez to Liverpool? Speculation starts to grow that Mahrez is set to join Liverpool as a replacement for Philippe Coutinho, who joined Barcelona in a £142m move. However, Liverpool are quick to brief journalists to tell them that this is not the case. They have no interest in Mahrez.

Jan 30, 2018: Man City linked, Mahrez goes missing Out of nowhere, reports surface of a late move from Man City for Mahrez. Mahrez misses from training, the day before Leicester's game at Everton on deadline day. This forms the start of a 10-day absence.

Jan 31, 2018: Man City offer rejected as Mahrez misses Everton game Deadline Day. Man City make a 'final offer', before pulling out of the deal when Leicester turn it down as Mahrez misses the game. Man City claim they offered £65m (£50m in cash plus a youngster they thought was worth £15m), but the Mercury reveal Leicester's real asking price was £80m. His City team-mates are busy suffering a 2-1 defeat at Goodison Park.

Feb 1, 2018: Mahrez camp release statement And so it begins. A statement, reported from a 'close of friend of Mahrez', claims the winger is "depressed" after the failed move to Man City. "Riyad is very depressed this evening over the events of the last two days. He doesn't understand why Leicester have behaved in the way they have."

Feb 3, 2018: Mahrez misses Swansea game He's still not returned to training, and now Mahrez misses a second Premier League game. This time it's against Swansea at the King Power Stadium. Again, City don't win. When they took the lead, though, fans chant about Mahrez asking "Riyad, what's the score?" as well as "Are you watching, Mardy Arse?"

Feb 9, 2018: Mahrez returns to training and issues statement He's back! Mahrez makes an unexpected return to training, ending what has been a 10-day absence. Mahrez breaks his silence over his 10-day absence, releasing a statement in which he denies he went awol, claims City were always aware of his whereabouts, takes a swipe at the media for their coverage of the story and vows to continue to give his all for Leicester while he is here. The winger holds talks with his team-mates, trains, and the travels with the team for their game against - guess who - Man City.

Feb 10: Mahrez returns to action Mahrez is named on the bench for the clash at the Etihad Stadium. He is brought on in the second half, and is cheered by both sets of fans. Mahrez cannot help City avoid a 5-1 defeat to the Premier League leaders.

March 3, 2018: Mahrez scores equaliser v Bournemouth A free-kick. 30 yards out. Leicester 1-0 down at the King Power Stadium. Time's up. Mahrez steps up, curls it around the wall, to equalise. The winger charges towards the bench in celebration and jumps into the arms of his team-mates and coaches on the touchline, who mob him in delight. On that showing, all is forgiven. Mahrez dedicates his goal to the City fans for welcoming him back.

March 7, 2018: Mahrez announces 'retirement' A strange statement appears on Mahrez's official Facebook page announcing his retirement from football. He hasn't really. He's just been hacked.

March 8, 2018: Mahrez unsure of City future Mahrez admits that he 'regrets' some of his actions following his 10-day absence from Leicester in the aftermath of the rejected move to Man City. The winger says he is still unsure of his future, and will see what happens in the summer. "I’m not saying I’m going to leave, I’m not saying I’m going to go. We will talk between me and the club. Everything is very good.”

May 1, 2018: Real Madrid linked with Mahrez Blimey. Spanish sports magazine Don Balon suggest Madrid will do everything in their power to sign Mahrez ahead of Man City in a bid to get one over the former Barca boss, Pep Guardiola. The story claims Real will offer £50m for his services, though City's bid in January was that plus a player they rated at £15m and that still wasn't enough to tempt Leicester into doing business

May 4, 2018: Mahrez withdraws transfer request Mahrez reveals that he has withdrawn his transfer request at Leicester. However, the winger admits that he does not know whether he will remain a City player after the summer. Will this be the end of the saga? Probably not.

May 9-13, 2018: Mahrez shines at end of season If this is the last time we see Mahrez in a City shirt, what a way to bow out. The magician scores a stunning goal at the end of a victory over Arsenal in the final game at the King Power Stadium, before giving a thumbs up to the crowd and beating the badge on his chest. Mahrez then bags another at Wembley in the thrilling 5-4 defeat to Tottenham on the final day. Is this it? Is this goodbye?

May 21, 2018: Man City deal on the way? Leicester City and Man City have remained in talks since January over a deal for Riyad Mahrez. Now the window has opened it was believed a deal could be done quickly, but the move appears to have hit a snag over agent fees. It looks like Mahrez could, finally, be on his way.

May 23, 2018: £75m deal agreed for Mahrez? Leicester City will get close to their January asking price for Mahrez when his move to Manchester City eventually goes through, according to reports. City rejected an offer of £50m, plus winger Patrick Roberts, who the Citizens valued at £15m, on transfer deadline day in January, but would have sold Mahrez for £80m cash. The Guardian reports that a fee has now been agreed of £60m cash up front with a further £15 million of add-ons, taking the total of the deal to £75m. There is even talk that the move could get wrapped up within days.

June 20, 2018: Talks stall Well, that was wrong. It all goes quiet for the best part of a month and, suddenly, the talk is not so confident. The Mercury understands that talks have stalled. Mahrez’s agent Kia Joorabchian has been working hard to try to broker a deal but there is currently no open dialogue between the two clubs. City had asked for £80million during the January window, but Manchester City wouldn’t meet that valuation and it appears no closer to a deal being agreed.

June 24, 2018: Another loyal twist? This won't go down well with Leicester fans. Reports claim that the deal for Mahrez to move to Man City is being slowed by the player's own demands...that he deserves a loyalty bonus. The claims: Mahrez feels he is entitled to his pay-off for his services to City, while Leicester believe that because he has put in a transfer requests he does not deserve one, although Mahrez did say he had withdrawn it when the window shut.

July 3, 2018: Deal edges closer The Mercury understands the move to Man City is edging closer, but there is still work to be done before Mahrez gets his move. City and the Premier League champions are close to agreeing a deal, with reports that a fee of £60m has been agreed. Not quite over the line yet, but it seems likely that Mahrez will not be a Leicester player for much longer.

July 9, 2018: Mahrez skips pre-season camp With Mahrez's move almost complete, the Algerian is given permission not to attend City's pre-season training camp in Evian, France. Mahrez had been due to join up with his Leicester team-mates in the Alps, but was told to stay in the UK to finalise the details on his transfer.

July 10, 2018: Mahrez has medical Riyad Mahrez has passed his medical ahead of his record-breaking move to Manchester City. Leicester City are expected to get around £60million from the Premier League champions for the Algeria international, shattering the previous record for a fee received, the £35 million Chelsea paid for N’Golo Kante in 2016. Mahrez is now expected to be unveiled as a Manchester City player shortly, ending a long-running transfer saga.