Manchester City have agreed to a loan spell for Eliaquim Mangala away to Everton, according to reports from Sky Sports. The Frenchman is the third signing in the January transfer window for the Toffees including Cenk Tosun and Theo Walcott.
The 26-year-old has played on just 15 occasions this season and would want to move to a team where he is likely to get more game time. The 2018 FIFA World Cup is closing in fast and with just five months left to make his case, Mangala would prefer to find more minutes on the pitch rather than get banished to the benches at the Etihad.
Mangala made his senior club debut with Standard Liege at the age of 17 and went on to make 99 appearances for the Belgian club before being snapped up by FC Porto in 2011. In his three year spell at the club, he played 95 matches for the Portuguese outfit impressing everybody in Europe. Laporte’s arrival has signalled the end of Mangala’s time at the club with the French outcast falling way below the pecking order behind the likes of John Stones, Vincent Kompany, Nicolas Otamendi and new boy Aymeric Laporte.
Everton need to bounce back to winning ways after registering zero in their last six league games. Mangala’s arrival will tighten up the backline and this is how their strongest lineup will look like.
Formation : 4-2-3-1
Defence
Jordan Pickford is the first choice to appear in between the sticks.
Seamus Coleman has returned to the squad after a ten-month stint on the sidelines. Mason Holgate has been a live wire on the right-hand side but with Coleman providing cover from the flanks, the 21-year-old can shift in towards the centre-back role alongside the experienced Mangala.
Rhu-Endly Cuco Martina is the best option on left.
Midfield
Morgan Schneiderlin has been inconsistent for the Dogs of War but is still a top choice under Allardyce. However, Tom Davies has filled in more than he has been asked off and is better off starting the games alongside Idrissa Gueye in the holding midfield role.
Wayne Rooney has taken over the attacking midfield role often falling into deeper pockets to launch the counters. He should get flanked by Theo Walcott from the right and Yannick Bolasie from the left.
Attack
Cenk Tosun is the leading number nine right now and the Turkish man is yet to prove his worth under Sam Allardyce.
