Roma issue ultimatum to Leicester City over winger Riyad Mahrez

Rome, August 14: Roma have informed Leicester they must hear back by August 15 over their club-record £31.8 million bid for the Algerian playmaker Riyad Mahrez, according to Sky in Italy.

If the Leicester's Thai owners fail to respond to the Serie A club by midnight on Tuesday (August 15) the Giallorossi have stated they will completely withdraw their interest in the Foxes winger and look elsewhere.

Roma had bids in the region of £20 million and £27 million rejected by the premier league club, and have been on Mahrez's case all summer after the 26-year-old confirmed he wanted to leave the King Power for a new challenge.

Mahrez has scored 35 goals in over 100 appearances for City since a £560,000 move from French Ligue 2 side Le Havre in 2014.

The Algerian played 90 minutes in Leicester's Premier League opening defeat of 2-1 away to Arsenal where he showed flashes of form he endured in the foxes league winning campaign in 2015-16.

Roma's previous transfer record is the £22.5 million fee paid for Argentine striker Gabriel Batistuta from Fiorentina in 2000.

The Giallorossi have already added eleven players to their ranks this season with a view to challenge in the Serie A. Roma have added the likes of Alexsandar Kolarov, Maxime Gonolans, Federico Fazio and Lorenzo Pellegrini to name a few.

Roma start their Serie A campaign this Sunday (August 20) away to Atalanta and will play Italian giants Internazionale the following Saturday (August 26).