Blues have been tracking Frenchman since last summer. <a href=’fanatix://eventid/51c186d9034c7dfe27000067/’ class=’in-app-event-link’>Check in to Chelsea vs West Bromwich Albion</a>
Premier League giants Chelsea have been put on alert after FC Porto revealed that they would be willing to sell in-demand defender Eliaquim Mangala when the winter transfer window opens again for business in the new year were they to receive the right offer for their star man, according to reports in the Metro.
The coveted France international has been the subject of a whole host of interest in his services of late, with the likes of the west London club, as well as Premier League champions Manchester United and Spanish champions FC Barcelona all having recently been linked with making a move for Mangala.
In fact, the Blues themselves even saw an offer for the centre back rejected out of hand by the Portuguese champions during the summer, although Chelsea head coach Jose Mourinho is understood to still be desperately keen to bring the 22-year-old to Stamford Bridge at the turn of the year.
And now the Portuguese will have been boosted following the comments made by Porto president Pinto da Costa, who said of Mangala: “I see his name linked with clubs all the time in the media.
“He has a release clause and clubs know that, but if a bid arrives that attracts us then we could sell.”
Mangala has a reported release clause in his current deal at the Dragao that is estimated to be worth a whopping £50 million, although it is believed that Porto would be willing to accept a fee closer to the £30m mark for the central defender in January.