Mahrez to Inter Milan … ??

So, in trolling the various Italian mercato rumor mills, several outlets picked up on Inter Milan being linked to Leicester City striker Riyad Mahrez.

Corriere dello Sport (via talkSPORT, Sports Illustrated ((via 90min)) ... you get the train here) reported the Nerazzurri are ready to swoop in and accomplish what Serie A rivals AS Roma couldn’t do … sign the Algerian who helped lead the Foxes to the Premier League title in 2016.

Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images

Now, we are all smart enough to know that not every rumor reported by (insert media outlet name here) out of Italy is correct. This one, while I struggle to think it happens, does have a little merit.

The Algerian scored 10 goals for the Foxes last year along with seven assists, but still struggled to find the form that led him to be named player of the year in the Premier League the previous year. That year, he scored 18 goals with 10 assists.

Mahrez has said he wants out of Leicester City as the team is not likely to find its championship form this coming season either.

Recently, in talking about transfer rumors about Antonio Candreva, Inter coach Luciano Spalletti said he wasn’t interested in selling …

"Absolutely not," said Spalletti, according to ESPN FC. "We intend to keep Candreva. Even if we had to sell him, it would be difficult because we are short of wingers."

Well, that tells me Inter may be in the market for another striker or two. The question becomes is Inter willing to go where Roma wasn’t?

Leicester’s valuation of Mahrez is set at around £40 million (€44.2 million), which of course is way north of what his transfer valuation is (€30 million according to Transfermarkt.com).

According to reports, Inter’s Walter Sabatini has met with Leicester officials to lay some groundwork for a deal. This could come in the way of a half-now-half-later kind of deal where the Nerazzurri pay €22 million now and €22 million later or some sort.

Keep up on Nerazzurri transfer news and rumors here.

But is Mahrez a player Inter should go after?

I am a little ‘meh’ on this one. I mean, two years ago … heck yes. But last year was maybe a more accurate representation of what Mahrez is capable of. Not that 10 goals and seven assists is bad, but there may be more options out there, for less of a financial risk.

Mahrez struggled last year and that certainly doesn’t mean there isn’t room for a rebound. After all, Roma and Arsenal were both interested, just not for that price.

This could be a transfer that, if actually true, could be a brilliant stroke of genius or make Inter management look like goats.

I think we could use some help on the wings, but I’m not sure if Mahrez is the answer.