French international set to make Etihad Stadium move.
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Man City boss Manuel Pellegrini saw his defence breached with incredible ease during his side’s Community Shield defeat to Arsenal on Sunday but will seemingly soon be welcoming in some much needed reinforcements.
The BBC confirm that the Etihad Stadium side are close to completing their ongoing move to sign FC Porto’s Eliaqium Mangala.
Pellegrini insists a £32m deal to bring in the French international is close, stating;
“We will see what happens in the week,” he told BT Sport.
“Some papers are maybe missing but we continue having interest in the player and he wants to come.”
Arsenal eased past Man City 3-0 with Pellegrini’s defence looking a shambles without captain Vincent Kompany with Matija Nastasic and Dedryck Boyata looking out of their depth and the Premier League title holders could certainly do with a solid option at the back, not least as the skipper’s current best centre-back partner is ageing Argentine Martin Demichelis.
Mangala won’t come cheap but at 23 years of age the defender is a great prospect who has garnered a solid level of experience during his three seasons at the Estádio do Dragão, during which he has won two Primeira Liga titles.
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