£35m-Rated Ace Confirms His Preference For Chelsea Over Manchester

As we approach the opening of the summer window clubs will be intensifying their efforts in the transfer market so we’ll bring you all the latest news and gossip. Today, Eliaquim Mangala favours a move to Chelsea.

Porto’s £35m-rated centre-back Eliaquim Mangala has revealed that he’d favour a move to Chelsea amid reported interest from Manchester United and Manchester City, according to reports today.

Mangala has emerged as one of the most sought after defenders in Europe after two excellent seasons with Porto and his impressive displays have understandably led to interest from some top clubs.

Manchester City were strongly linked with the French international back in January but a deal failed to materialise after the two clubs couldn’t agree a fee. Manuel Pellegrini is expected to renew his interest this summer as he looks to bring in a commanding centre-back to play alongside Vincent Kompany, with Jolean Lescott likely to leave after losing his place, Mataija Nastasic struggling with injury problems and doubts continuing over Martin Demichelis’s ability to perform at the highest level.

Chelsea are also understood to be tracking the 23-year-old with Jose Mourinho on the look-out for a long-term replacement for John Terry, while Manchester United have also been credited with an interest. New United boss Louis van Gaal needs to replace both Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand this summer and Mangala would be an excellent solution.

However, the most serious interest at this time appears to come from City and Chelsea and while Mangala confirmed talks with the Premier League champions in the winter window, the defender has revealed that he’d favour a move to Stamford Bridge as it’s based in London. The Frenchman admitted he’s ambitious and wants to play at the ‘biggest clubs’, but he’ll leave any transfer talk until after the upcoming World Cup.

“City or Chelsea? Chelsea because it is London,”

“It is true that I love the Premier League because it is a spectacular championship. In January, there were discussions with City, but it fell through because the two clubs could not reach an agreement.

‘Every player wants to play in the biggest clubs. I am an ambitious player and the team that can help me win titles is the one that interests me.

“My goal now is the World Cup. We will see what happens after that. I told [agent] Jorge Mendes that I don’t want to know anything about the transfer window until then.” Mangala is quoted as saying by the Guardian

It’s going to be interesting to see where Mangala ends up and he could be forced into an awkward situation if City agree a fee with Porto and Chelsea don’t. No doubt he’d claim he was ‘misinterpreted’ as he’s clearly keen on moving to the Premier League and I’m sure he’d join City if a move was on the table.

Whoever ends up buying him will be getting an excellent talent but I think he’d be an instant success at the Etihad. The Citizens desperately need someone to play with Kompany at the back and Mangala could be the ideal solution.

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At Chelsea, he may find it difficult to break up the Cahill-Terry partnership for at least a season after the skipper signed his new one-year deal, so perhaps the best move for him if he wants regular action would be City, despite his preference to move to London.