Barcelona plotting summer swoop for Leicester City star

Mahrez celebrates with teammates

The Premier League leaders have been planning contract talks with Mahrez - but are already becoming resigned to losing the playmaker

Leicester are bracing themselves for the loss of one of their two crown jewels … with Riyad Mahrez being lined up for a big-money move to Barcelona.

The Premier League leaders have been planning contract talks with Mahrez - who only signed a new £35,000-a-week, four-year deal last summer - but are already becoming resigned to losing the playmaker and goalscorer.

Leicester are prepared to more than double his wages but interest from Barcelona is growing and sources close to the player say he has heart set on a move to the La Liga giants.

And a fresh £75,000-a-week package - similar to the one agreed by Jamie Vardy - will be nowhere near enough to keep Mahrez with the Foxes.

Leicester believe Vardy’s new deal WILL mean his long-term future belongs with the surprise title contenders.

But they are less confident about the chances of securing the extended services of Mahrez.

While Mahrez has established himself as a crucial and inspirational figure in Leicester’s unlikely title pursuit, he would, obviously, not be guaranteed a starting place in Barcelona’s stellar line-up.

But the allure of the Nou Camp would outweigh any concerns about game-time, according to those close to the player who turns 25 this weekend.

There will be plenty of rivals in the summer race for Mahrez with Chelsea and Arsenal big admirers. And a bidding war would be the one thing that could put Barcelona off.

The Catalan club would price Mahrez in the £20-£25million bracket.

While the likes of Chelsea might go higher, the pull of Barcelona would be decisive from the player’s point of view.

Leicester would love to keep both Vardy and Mahrez at the club but would not see the loss of only one of them as the biggest disaster.