July 20 – The exodus of elite players to Saudi Arabia in the latter s of their careers looks set to continue after

Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez was granted permission to miss their pre-season tour of Japan and South Korea to finalise a

£30 million move to Al Ahli.

Mahrez is to join Roberto Firmino at the Jeddah-based club on a reported three-year deal after scoring 78 goals in 236

games during five years at City, with his contract expiring in 2024.

The Algerian has won five Premier League titles – the first in Leicester’s surprise success in 2016 – and cost City £60 million

in 2017. He was their 24-goal top scorer in 2021/22

The summer transfer window has already seen big-name players such as Ruben Neves, Karim Benzema and Firmino follow

in the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo in January by moving to clubs in Saudia Arabia for lucrative offers – and more will

follow.

The next of those looks like being England midfielder Jordan Henderson, with Liverpool having agreed in principle to sell

the 33-year-old for £12 million plus add-ons to Al-Ettifaq. Henderson would immediately link up with former Liverpool

captain Steven Gerrard who was recently appointed as manager of Al-Ettifaq.

‘I can’t’: Journalist would be stunned if £45m Man City player ended up at Liverpool now

Liverpool are unlikely to sign Kalvin Phillips this summer.

That’s according to Sky Sports journalist Kaveh Solhekol, who has admitted he ‘can’t see it happening’.

The Man City midfielder emerged on the Reds’ radar this week as Fabinho and Jordan Henderson look set to secure moves

to Saudi Arabia.

Phillips only moved to the Etihad Stadium in a £45 million deal last summer, however he has been unable to reach the

heights that saw him named England Men’s Player of the Year for the 2020-21 season.

The 27-year-old showed clear talent prior to his Leeds exit and seems to have impressed in training, with John Stones

praising his teammate during pre-season.

Speaking on Man City’s YouTube channel, Stones said: “His range of passing and how he’s always in the right place on the

pitch, his positioning and some of the passes he plays [are] outrageous.”

Phillips has made only two starts in the Premier League since joining the club, however Liverpool are still said to be

considering a move for him to replace their outgoing midfielders.

“There was reported to have been interest in Kalvin Phillips and Ryan Gravenberch, but those two I can’t really see

happening,” Solhekol told Sky Sports.

Man City could already lose another five key players this summer after Ilkay Gundogan already joined Barcelona,

while Riyad Mahrez looks set to be the next player out the door.

Man City and Liverpool have avoided completing transfer business together in previous years, with their last deal seeing

Raheem Sterling move to the Etihad Stadium for £49m in 2015.

Man City are unlikely to sell Kalvin Phillips to Liverpool

It came as a surprise to fans when Kalvin Phillips was named as one of Liverpool’s targets following the recent news

regarding Henderson and Fabinho.

However, the England international is one player among a long list of other players that the Reds have been linked with –

joining the likes of Marco Verratti, Cheick Doucoure and Romeo Lavia.

Jurgen Klopp’s side have seemed to be reluctant to spend too much money in their midfielders this summer and are unlikely

to cough up anywhere near the fee Man City paid for Phillips, while Pep Guardiola probably doesn’t want to help out their

rivals either.

The Liverpool Echo have already claimed that the midfielder isn’t under consideration on Merseyside anymore, so it looks

very likely that Phillips will remain with the Premier League champions.stage