An immediate return to the Premier League, that too by clinching the Championship silverware, must have brought a huge sigh of relief to the Newcastle United faithful who had to endure a disastrous campaign last season. With Rafael Benitez at the helm of St. James’ Park, the football fraternity did generate high yardsticks for the Magpies. It goes without saying that Benitez has brandished his magic wand perfectly and has cultivated a side which has seemingly appeared to be capable enough to play among the elite cubs of the country.
Newcastle United’s owner, Mike Ashley, would have to loosen his wallet in the summer to ensure that the former Real Madrid boss gets the shrewd deals done so that the club constructs itself in a healthy manner before it faces the animosity which the Premier League will have on offer. The central defence would be a key aspect to look into to be bolstered and reportedly, one of the players to have fallen on the radar of Benitez is Manchester City’s out-of-favour defender, Eliaquim Mangala.
Mangala was shipped to Valencia on loan in the summer transfer window of 2016 as he was deemed as surplus to the requirements of the club. Pep Guardiola hasn’t had the most convincing of seasons and therefore an exodus of players is expected and Mangala could be one of the players to be shown the exit route. Although his valuation at the Etihad Stadium might be unsubstantial, he is a solid central defender who could steer comfortably into the defensive setup of the Geordies and challenge the likes of Jamaal Lascelles, Chancel Mbemba and Ciaran Clark.
In 28 La Liga appearances this season, the 26-year-old has collected 2 goals apart from registering 1.9 tackles, 2.3 interceptions, 5.5 clearances and 0.8 blocks per game on an average. An archetypal central defender who is powerful, strong and technically sound, Mangala marshals the backline with a commanding aura. He is fashionably sound in the air, passes the ball up the pitch more often than not instead of sideways and is very comfortable in possession. Besides, he is athletic and aggressive and has shown signs of improvement this season.
If the Toons manage to lure him under their ranks, it would be a huge statement of intent from them. With adequate support and trust from the manager, the former Porto man could garner wonderful results for the club. Newcastle United are in the process of restructuring themselves and considering Manchester City’s apparent lack of confidence in him, a move to the Tyneside should help Mangala in reclaiming his former self on the English soil.
Statistics Credits: WhoScored.com
