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Some indication of Valencia’s fall in stature came this week, as club officials travelled to Manchester for a meeting. First, it was assumed they were set to meet Peter Lim (pictured above), the club’s owner, and discuss summer business.

Lim hasn’t been seen much around Valencia in recent times, and has business interests in Manchester. However, some Valencia media report that Lim wasn’t even able to make the meeting, and the officials were left to speak with Jorge Mendes.

Mendes, in town to complete Bernardo Silva’s move to Manchester City, has had an awful lot to do with Lim’s spell at Valencia, and supporters of the club would attribute some of the blame for the club’s struggles to that relationship.

Valencia newspaper Super Deporte report Mendes represents ‘many’ Valencia players, and, like Marca, they pinpoint Eliaquim Mangala. Marca on Saturday say Valencia are still keen on a deal for Mangala, although the €18m clause period has passed.

That clause, sometimes reported as €20m, was considered too much for Valencia, and they’re trying to sign Mangala for less. It obviously helps that Mendes is the defender’s agent, and that’s where things are expected to go from here.

Perhaps Manchester City, so happy with the ease of signing Silva, will allow Mangala to go on another low cost loan, cover some of his wages, and slap in a purchase clause.

Mendes is being tasked with sorting this one out, and Valencia officials are once again in his hands.