Why Everton must beat Arsenal and Tottenham to Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez

Everton suffered back-to-back Premier League defeats for the first time this season after going down 1-0 to relegation-threatened Swansea on Saturday.

Toffees boss Ronald Koeman would have been hoping for a response from his men after they were comprehensively beaten by Premier League leaders Chelsea last weekend, but a Fernando Llorente goal was enough to secure the Swans a deserved win at the Liberty Stadium.

The Merseyside outfit were lethargic throughout and didn’t muster too many clear cut chances, and will hope for better in their final two games of the campaign as they look to finish strongly ahead of a pivotal summer at Goodison Park.

Everton will finish no lower than seventh in what has been a fine debut campaign for manager Koeman, but if they are to sustain a challenge to the top six and the Champions League places next term, they’ll need to bring some quality through the doors at Goodison Park this summer.

And that’s why news that Leicester City midfielder Riyad Mahrez looks set to leave the club in the upcoming transfer window should get Koeman interested.

The Algeria international was a key part of the Foxes side that won the Premier League last season, yet recent reports suggest that he is hoping the club will allow him to leave this summer as part of his agreement to stay with the Midlands side back in the summer of 2016.

This is sure to alert some of England’s biggest clubs – Arsenal and Tottenham have been linked with the 26-year-old – yet it is Everton who must get in there and seal a deal for the 2015/16 PFA Player of the Year.

And that’s because, although he hasn’t been at his best this term, Mahrez is a quality Premier League player who can change a game in an instance.

The 26-year-old was simply magnificent for Leicester in their incredible run to the title last season, scoring 17 goals and laying on 11 assists as Claudio Ranieri’s side finished ten points clear of their nearest challengers Arsenal.

And much of their sensational run was down to the moments of brilliance from Mahrez. He scored crucial goals in wins over West Ham, Chelsea, Everton, and Manchester City, as well as producing man-of-the-match displays on no fewer than seven occasions (according to Squawka.com).

Even this season, Mahrez scored important goals in their run to the Champions League quarter-finals, as well as key ones in their victories over Hull and West Ham back in March as they fought off relegation.

Ultimately, the 26-year-old has proven to be a man for the big occasion, and grab key goals and produce key performances at key times for Leicester.

And with Everton’s attacking midfield options enduring up-and-down seasons to say the least, a signing like Mahrez would certainly strengthen that area of the pitch.

The future of Ross Barkley is far from certain, with the England star having yet to sign a new contract, and with Yannick Bolasie sidelined until 2018 and Kevin Mirallas doing solidly if unspectacularly this term, Koeman needs to strengthen that area – signing Mahrez would do that.

It would also be the statement of intent to the top six that Everton are here to challenge them, as they would likely have to beat the North London duo of Arsenal and Tottenham to the Algerian this summer.

But if they are serious about being Champions League contenders, major trophy contenders, and breaking into the top six, these are the sort of signings they need to make.

Everton can offer Mahrez European football next season, what with the Toffees guaranteed a spot in the Europa League, and it could be the start of something big at Goodison Park under Koeman.

There have been signs this season, they beat Arsenal and thumped Manchester City, that they are good enough, yet they need to back that up with major signings in the upcoming transfer window.

Mahrez would be one of those.