Stamford Bridge side told to pay massive fee for French international.
Check in to Transfer Window: Done Deal Alerts
Chelsea are said to be readying a move for FC Porto defender Eliaquim Mangala but only if the Portuguese side reduce the player’s price-tag according to the Telegraph.
Jose Mourinho is planning a move for the French international as a potential replacement for Brazilian David Luiz, who has recently been the subject of an official bid from La Liga giants Barcelona.
FC Porto are currently demanding that any side interested in 22 year old centre-back Mangala must meet the player’s €50m (£42m) release clause, a fee that the Blues are reportedly only ready to fork out half of for the highly rated defender.
Mangala moved to the Estadio Dragao from Standard Liege back in August 2011 and was a key performer in FC Porto’s Primeira Liga title winning side last term, during which the club conceded just 14 goals in 30 league fixtures.
Jose Mourinho does have the likes of Gary Cahill, Branislav Ivanovic and John Terry to turn to if indeed Luiz did move to the Nou Camp but clearly Mourinho feels that Managala, who won his first French national team cap in June, is a player with a great deal of potential but is unsurprisingly not willing to pay such a hefty fee for the youngster.