Manchester City haven’t enjoyed a successful season so far and there is a sense that there has just been something missing from the squad during 2024/25.
In recent weeks, City have improved their Premier League form a little bit. Before the 5-1 defeat to Arsenal, Pep Guardiola had overseen a run of three wins and two draws from the previous five games.
Before that, a spell of one win in nine had basically ended any lingering aspirations that City had of challenging Liverpool for the Premier League title and now the remit is to qualify for the Champions League.
City lost Kevin De Bruyne for a long period through injury. That certainly didn’t help the club in terms of consistency and with new signings not really forthcoming in the summer something has just felt wrong this season.
It’s only two seasons ago since City won the lot. During the 2022/23 campaign the Citizens romped to Premier League glory, won their first Champions League crown and also lifted the FA Cup.
Paul Merson thinks Manchester City haven’t replaced Riyad Mahrez
It’s fair to say that City at least tried to replace Mahrez when he departed for Al-Ahli with Jeremy Doku and Savinho joining the club in transfer windows since the Algerian left.
However, it’s fair to say that neither have really shown the sort of impact that Mahrez showcased when he was strutting his stuff at the Etihad Stadium and Paul Merson thinks that’s a real problem at the moment.
He told Sportskeeda: “I’m not entirely convinced about City’s recruitment in January either. I like Omar Marmoush, but I think he will need time to become his best self in the Premier League. And Abdukodir Khusanov looks a bit lost at the moment if I’m being honest!
“Do you remember the Man City of the old? They had Julian Alvarez as an understudy and he was a World Cup winner for Christ’s sake! Even Riyad Mahrez produced plenty of goals for them, but City haven’t been successful in replacing him. I don’t think Jeremy Doku and Savinho can match Mahrez’s numbers.”
Riyad Mahrez record at Manchester City
Mahrez was a superb signing for City when he swapped Leicester City for the Etihad Stadium shortly after helping the Foxes win an unexpected Premier League title of their own.
The Algerian player was mesmerising at times and his left foot proved a real asset to the City team with Guardiola valuing him as a main player in his swashbuckling, all-conquering team.
| Riyad Mahrez record at Manchester City | Total |
| Appearances | 236 |
| Goals | 78 |
| Assists | 56 |
Mahrez was a surprise departure from City when the Saudi Arabian riches came calling in 2023. He moved for £30 million and there is definitely an argument that the 33-year-old could have been kept at City a bit longer.
Clubs the size of City have to move on from players quicker than they have with Mahrez. Doku certainly hasn’t made his mark in the same way that the left-winger did at City and perhaps the dice will be rolled once again in the summer.
