According to the Mirror, Newcastle are now in talks with Manchester City over the potential loan signing of centre-back Eliaquim Mangala.
I know what you’re thinking – a new centre-back is just what we need when we’re desperate for a new striker..
He may have been a decent signing to have made over the summer, but with less than 48 hours to go until the window shuts and still no striker signed, this feels like another slap in the face.
Loaning Mangala would also mean we’d use up all our available Premier League loans, meaning we’d be unable to bring in the likes of Slimani, Sandro or Iheanacho – three strikers linked with potential loan moves since deals for Sturridge and Jorgensen fell through.
Mirror reporting Mangala could move to #nufc on loan. Would be from leftfield because striker is v.much the priority…. https://t.co/CXXT5wF2BG
— Mark Douglas (@MsiDouglas) January 29, 2018
The story states that Mangala is now deemed surplus to requirements by Pep Guardiola after Man City are close to securing the £57m signing of Athletic Bilbao defender Aymeric Laporte.
Benitez was credited with an interest in the Frenchman over the summer, so he appears to be an admirer, however the £8.7m signing of Florian Lejeune ended those rumours.
The only plausible explanation for us signing him would be that Rafa may be eyeing a 5 at the back formation? This theory below makes some sense, although it hardly solves our attacking problems!
So #NUFC's media partner (Mirror) claim we're in talks with #MCFC's Mangala on loan..
Seems so odd in the circumstances, but with Kenedy signed (LWB), this makes me wonder if Rafa's going to go with 5 at the back.
Yedlin – Lascelles – Mangala – Clark/Lejeune – Kenedy??
— Black&WhiteBarmy (@BlackWhiteBarmy) January 29, 2018
