Manchester City have hit back at Claude Puel’s claims they showed Leicester City a lack of respect in their pursuit of Riyad Mahrez as the fall-out from the failed transfer showed no signs of abating.

Puel questioned the timing of Manchester City’s move for Mahrez after claiming it was disrespectful of the Premier League leaders to try to snare one of their best players just 48 hours before the close of the transfer window last month, with little time to find a replacement.

But Manchester City have dismissed Puel’s remarks by insisting their director of football, Txiki Begiristain, first made contact with Leicester City a week before deadline day.

The Manchester club, who are keeping tight-lipped over whether they might revive their interest in Mahrez in the summer, have also suggested Leicester City gave them some encouragement at that time that they would listen to offers for the Algeria playmaker.

They had proposed a cash deal worth up to £60 million for Mahrez but Leicester City rejected that on the basis they want a package worth as much as £95 million. The Midlands club did enquire about taking Patrick Roberts, the Manchester City forward currently on loan at Celtic, but that proved a non-starter.