Arsenal have reportedly joined in the hunt for Porto defender Eliaquim Mangala, with the Gunners looking to beat title rivals Manchester City to the Frenchman this summer.
Mangala, who is said to have a buyout clause of around £40m, was strongly linked with a move to Man City in January, and despite a move failing to materialise, the 22-year-old is set to take centre stage this summer, with Portuguese newspaper ‘A Bola’ claiming that Arsenal are now showing interest in the defender.
Read more – The Transfer Lens – Mangala to Man City?
The Frenchman, who earned his first international cap in June of last year, has previously expressed his admiration for the Premier League,
“You can have the best agent in the world, but if you are not outstanding on the pitch you will never join any great club,” Mangala said in December,
“The Premier League? That is no secret, to me it is the most beautiful league in the world.
“Whatever the opponent, you know it will be a fight. The game is intense, it is fast, and everyone is giving his very best.”
Following the news today that Bacary Sagna has rejected a new deal to stay at the Emirates, Arsene Wenger will surely be in the market for defensive reinforcement come the summer, and while the Mangala’s price-tag may be astronomical, there may be room for negotiation, but they will face stiff competition from mega-bucks City for his signature.
What do you think? Would Managa suit Arsenal? Let me know in the comments below…
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