Alireza Jahanbakhsh targeted by Leicester City as Riyad Mahrez replacement [Report]

Leicestershire Live – LEICESTER, Alireza Jahanbakhsh is the latest name to be linked with a transfer to Leicester City.

Reports in Jahanbakhsh’s native Iran say the AZ Alkmaar winger has been pinpointed by Leicester as their preferred replacement for Riyad Mahrez, who this week departed for Manchester City in a £60million move.

Some outlets go as far to say Jahanbakhsh is set to fly to England to undergo a medical with a €22m (£19.5m) offer accepted.

The 24-year-old is hot property after a superb campaign for AZ, scoring 21 goals in 33 games from the right wing to finish as the Eredivisie’s top scorer. He also provided 12 assists.

Following AZ’s third-place finish in the Netherlands, Jahanbakhsh headed to Russia for the World Cup and was a member of the Iran side that came agonisingly close to escaping a group which included Spain and Portugal.

Earlier this week, AZ technical director Max Huiberts said there was no current interest in Jahanbakhsh.

“It would be very nice if he was on the field at that first Europa League match,” Huiberts told NH.

“There has been interest, but not now.

“Let’s hope that there is very little interest for him, although I can not imagine that. Maybe he will stay with AZ for a year.”

Jahanbakhsh has two years left on his contract with the Dutch club.