Sky Sports have reported that Everton are confident of landing Manchester City reject Eliaquim Mangala on a loan deal. The wantaway French defender was initially thought to be on his way to Newcastle United but latest reports would signal that Toffees boss Sam Allardyce is set to make Mangala his third signing after 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. Mangala has been afraid that with the FIFA World Cup approaching this year; his lack of game time might cost him a place in the France squad, thereby making him desperate to seek a move away from 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.
The rise in the prowess of the young defender made the Arab owners of Manchester City come calling for him. The Etihad outfit paid a handsome £32 million for the promising star; making him the most expensive defender in British transfer history back then. However, after spending three and a half seasons at the club, the player has not lived up to his promise and Pep Guardiola has replaced him with Aymeric Laporte.
Laporte’s arrival has signalled the end of Mangala’s time at the club with the French outcast now way down in the pecking order behind John Stones, Vincent Kompany and Nicolas Otamendi as well. While for Everton and Mangala, the move would signal a successful transfer window for the club and a chance to shine before the World Cup for the player; the downside of such a deal can be traced back to Manchester City.
Guardiola now commands a backline at City that cost the team above £250 million. While it would be demeaning the Spaniard’s managerial genius by accusing him of trying to buy the title; the same token should be used to stop Guardiola from blaming the failure on a lack of activity in the transfer market. Dismissing a young defender worth £32 million simply for the sake of an improved squad depth is not a luxury many owners can bestow upon their managers.
However, with the Toffees closing in on the deal with the transfer window almost coming to an end for the season, it is to be seen whether the move can be beneficial for all the parties involved.
