Manchester City defender Eliaquim Mangala has emerged as a potential transfer target for Liga BBVA giants Valencia, according to reports in Spain.
The Frenchman has struggled to justify the £32million transfer fee that City paid last summer to prize him away from Porto and manager Manuel Pellegrini could be persuaded to part company with the 24-year-old if a suitable offer arrives.
Mangala was named in the Citizens’ starting XI for their first game of the new season against West Brom on Monday night and he produced a solid performance alongside Vincent Kompany to ensure City kept a clean sheet in a 3-0 win at the Hawthorns.
However, Spanish media outlet Super Deporte [via Star Sport] say Mangala is Los Che’s preferred choice to replace centre-back Nicolas Otamendi, who has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester United and reports in talkSPORT claimed on Wednesday that a deal to take the Argentine to Old Trafford was at an advanced stage.
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The Red Devils have been linked with a number of central defenders this summer and it appears Otamendi represents the final chance for manager Louis van Gaal to bolster that department before the transfer window closes next month.