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City manager Pep Guardiola has revealed that he may consider going in
for Leicester City winger Riyad Mahrez again at the end of the season.
The Citizens failed to lure the Algeria international to Manchester before the close of the January transfer window on Wednesday, as the two clubs failed to reach an agreement regarding the transfer fee.
The Foxes were holding out for at least £95 million, but City maxed out what they were willing to pay at a reported £65 million, in a cash-plus-player offer.
Despite missing out on Mahrez, Guardiola has hinted that City may re-open negotiations for the 26-year-old when the transfer window opens again at the end of the season.
Meanwhile, City did successfully sign 23-year-old French defender Aymeric Laporte from Athletic Bilbao as a left-footed centre-back option.
When asked about the Mahrez situation, Guardiola told Sky Sports: "He's a Leicester player. Everybody knows we were trying but we cannot afford, in this moment, this amount of what they are asking. I understand perfectly.
"We tried to do it in the summertime, we tried to do it now, but like summer, they locked the door and we can go to the summer and holidays.
"It was not possible. With [Aymeric] Laporte yes, with the other one no. We are going to see what happens in the summer."
City who hold a 15 point lead at the top of the table next travel to Turf Moor where they face Sean Dyche's Burnley on Saturday.
Kick-off is at 14:30 (SA time).
