Manchester City have a big hole to fill following the news that Leroy Sane will be out for up to seven weeks with ankle ligament damage.
The German star was on the receiving end of a horror challenge by Cardiff’s Joe Bennett in the FA Cup last weekend, with the 22-year-old’s injury being serious but not quite as bad as first feared.
Given the Premier League leaders are still fighting on all four fronts for silverware this term, Pep Guardiola is keen to ensure there is no let-up in City’s march towards an unprecedented quadruple.
While the likes of Sergio Aguero, Kevin de Bruyne and Raheem Sterling all give City attacking flair, with Gabriel Jesus still sidelined through injury, the Sky Blues will miss the 11 goals and 14 assists Sane has provided in all competitions this term.
Is Leicester winger Riyad Mahrez the right man to replace him?
The 2016 Premier League and PFA Player of the Year star has been in-form for the Foxes this term but if City are to seal a deadline day move for the Algerian, they will need to come up with a club-record fee.
Here, we a look at how the two stars compare from an attacking perspective via Opta Stats, in the Premier League:
RIYAD MAHREZ
Mahrez (8) has netted one more goal in the league than Sane (7).
LEROY SANE
Sane’s goals have all come off his favoured left, with Mahrez also displaying his class with his head and right boot.
CREATIVE FORCES
RIYAD MAHREZ
Less of Mahrez’s passing and time on the ball comes in the opposition’s half than Sane.
LEROY SANE
Sane is more deadly with his final ball and precision than Mahrez, though the Algerian has attempted more passes this term.
VERDICT
Both players have been fixtures for their respective sides in the Premier League this season, and as a result, have had big impacts.
Mahrez has the experience and pedigree to step up to the plate at City, and has shown this term, his goals and assist output is not a million miles away from Sane.
If City are able to splash huge cash on deadline day, signing Mahrez would prove to be an excellent capture and not a gamble by any stretch of the imagination.