Juventus linked with a move for Manchester City defender Eliaquim Mangala
Manchester City defender Eliaquim Mangala has emerged as a surprise target for Juventus in the summer transfer window.
According to the football transfer rumours in Spanish Media (Deporte Valenciano), Juventus are linked with a move for Manchester City defender Eliaquim Mangala.
The France international has joined Manchester City from Porto for a fee in the region of 30.5 million euros in August 2014. The 26-year-old has a valid contract with Manchester City until June 2019. In August 2016, Eliaquim Mangala was sent to Valencia on a season-long loan.
Since his arrival from Manchester City, Mangala has scored two goals in 33 games for Valencia in all competitions last season.
Eliaquim Mangala has represented France at Under-21 level, winning 21 caps and scoring two goals, before making his senior international debut in June 2013. As a member of France national football team, Eliaquim Mangala has won 8 caps.
Adding a defender remains Juventus’s top priority this summer and Massimiliano Allegri will have drafted a shortlist of a number of possible targets he could approach in the coming days.
Massimiliano Allegri is a long term admirer of Eliaquim Mangala and believes he can get the most out of the France international.
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Juventus manager wants to continue to strengthening his squad so they’re able to compete both domestically and in the Champions League next season. Allegri will reportedly be handed a huge transfer kitty this summer and the Manchester City defender is thought to be among the manager’s priorities.
Juventus are in the market for just a handful of statement signings this summer who can improve the first-team.
According to the report in Spanish Media, Valencia held a clause in the loan deal which would allow them to sign Mangala permanently in an 18 million euros deal but they simply did not have desire to push this through. Manchester City are asking around 20 million euros for the France international, but would be open to a loan deal with a view to Juventus buying Mangala next summer.
