Tottenham round-up: Mahrez interest; bid rejected for Ivorian; City teenager on radar

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Leicester City winger Riyad Mahrez has been linked with a number of clubs this summer – and now we can add Tottenham Hotspur to that ever-expanding list.

According to the Standard, Mauricio Pochettino is monitoring the Algerian, who has asked to leave the 2015/16 Premier League champions. Foxes’ manager Craig Shakespeare admitted today that they had rejected a bid from Serie A giants Roma, describing it as a “low offer”, as per BBC Sport.

Leicester have slapped a £50 million price tag on Mahrez and are determined to keep hold of their prized asset. Although Pochettino is interested in the player, the Standard say that Leicester’s asking price would need to be lowered if he is to table an offer for the 26-year-old, who can play in a variety of attacking positions.

Meanwhile, Spurs remain the only Premier League club yet to sign a player in this transfer window, although Eurosport France are reporting that they made a £13.3 million (15 million euros) bid for Nice midfielder Jean-Michael Seri. That, however, was promptly rejected by the Ligue 1 side.

Seri, who netted seven goals and provided nine assists last season, is believed to have a release clause of £35.8 million (40 million euros), according to French outlet RMC Sport, which is substantially more than Tottenham’s offer. Whether they return with an improved bid remains to be seen.

Seri is an Ivory Coast international and would potentially provide competition for Mousa Dembele and Victor Wanyama in central midfield.

Another player interesting Pochettino is highly-rated Manchester City youngster Jadon Sancho, according to the Mirror.

The England Under-17 starlet has failed to agree a new contract at the Etihad and is thought to be growing frustrated at the lack of opportunity to break into Pep Guardiola’s first-team plans.

Tottenham are keen to capitalise on the uncertainty but face competition from their arch-rivals, Arsenal.

Midfielder Sancho joined City from Watford in 2015 for £500,000 and has caught the eye this summer after winning the prestigious Golden Player award at the recent under-17 European Championships, where England finished runners-up.