Tottenham are reportedly eyeing a move for out-of-favour Manchester City defender Eliaquim Mangala, who is close to a move to Napoli.
ESPN have claimed that, according to their sources, Tottenham are interested in a shock move for Manchester City defender Eliaquim Mangala. The defender has been on the fringes at Etihad since the appointment of Pep Guardiola at the helm. He is reportedly on his way out of the club, which has brought Tottenham into the fold as they look to bolster their defensive options to compete on all fronts.
Eliaquim Mangala has been a regular in Manchester City since making the switch from Porto, having featured 48 Premier League matches, but has not impressed much in the two seasons thus far at Etihad.
The 25-year-old was reportedly close to joining Napoli which could’ve made way for Chelsea to secure the services of long-term defensive target Kalidou Koulibaly, a deal which has been drawn out for a long time in the present transfer window.
Spurs have come in for Mangala and it is reported that in case the Londoners manage to get a hold of the City defender, they would be willing to listen to offers for Austrian international Kevin Wimmer, who had just signed a new five-year deal a month ago.
The report has not mentioned whether Spurs would be interested in taking the player on a loan or permanent transfer but if they were to snatch the player from Napoli’s grasp, it may hinder Chelsea’s pursuit of Koulibaly.
Many would argue the defender is necessary for a frail Blues’ defence that has seen them concede in every single competitive match under Antonio Conte, including the two goals conceded in the League Cup match a couple of days ago, despite the Italian boss being known for his solid and disciplined back-line.
Mangala has been the subject of interest from AC Milan too but there has been no development on that front and for long, Napoli have been favourites to land the French defender, with the player ready to move to Naples. But, Tottenham’s interest might make Mangala wonder.
The 25-year-old would surely like to stay in the Premier League and give proof of his talent and ability to City and their fans, which could give Tottenham the slight edge.
If Tottenham are able to pull off this difficult-looking deal, it may do the job of killing two birds with one stone as it will bolster their own defensive options while also scuppering Chelsea’s chances of securing a deal for the Napoli defender.
