Riyad Mahrez on verge of £45m move to Chelsea after leaving Algeria camp and flying from Paris to London
The Leicester man could be set for a reunion with old team-mates N'Golo Kante and maybe Danny Drinkwater in West London
RIYAD MAHREZ is on his way to Chelsea.
The Algerian international was given permission to leave his national teams training base this morning to finalise his transfer out of Leicester City.
He was pictured with a fan at a Paris Charles De Gaulle with his destination unknown.
But SunSport understands he was heading to London and Stamford Bridge to sign for Champions Chelsea.
Barcelona were also reported to be interested in the 2015-16 title winner but it appears Antonio Conte who has won the race for the wide man in a deal worth around £45million.
The 2016 PFA Player of the Year has started in each of Leicester’s opening three fixtures as the Foxes have battled to keep hold of the player.
But they have now accepted defeat.
Mahrez had been the subject of three bids from Italian Serie A side Roma but a move to LA Liga or within the Premier League was always his target.
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Mahrez will link up with old Leicester team-mate N'Golo Kante at Stamford Bridge, and with Danny Drinkwater also rumoured to be joining the champions, it's a real Foxes reunion in West London.
The 26-year-old joined Leicester from Le Havre in January 2014 and signed a new four-year deal with the club in August 2015.
DZFoot speculate that Mahrez "will wear the same colour shirt" after the window slams shut, and say that it is Chelsea who are in "pole position" to sign him.
However, The Mirror are reporting that he is "hoping Barcelona table a bid" and that his representatives have already "held talks with the Spanish club" this week.
SunSport reported earlier today how the 26-year-old winger has been allowed to leave the headquarters of the Algerian football team to “formalise his transfer” away from Leicester City.
The 2016 Premier League winner, PFA Player of the Year and African Footballer of the Year will leave the club he helped win an unlikely league title.
But he went off the boil last season as the Foxes put in a limp defence of their Prem crown and saw hero boss Claudio Ranieri controversially sacked.
Latest Chelsea Transfer News
Leicester rejected a £32million bid from Roma earlier this summer for Mahrez, but Craig Shakespeare has acknowledged the French-born Algerian wanted to leave the club.
He even had conversations with owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha over leaving, and has been told he can for the right price.
A tweet from the Algerian FA translated as: “@Mahrez22 allowed to go formalise his transfer to a new club #LesVerts #TeamDZ.”
And with a host of clubs interested, Mahrez looks finally set to get his dream move away from the King Power.