Despite never leaving Manchester City in the summer, Eliaquim Mangala could still end up elsewhere in January if Lille get their way.
With Marcelo Bielsa now out of the picture, things have changed a bit in the north of France, and Le Foot in France claim the Ligue 1 side came very close to secure a loan for the French centre-back back in November, but John Stones’ injury put a stop to the proceedings.
Needing extra cover following the England international’s fitness issue and Vincent Kompany’s near constant rental of the Etihad Campus physio room, the Premier League club are now likely to wait until the beginning of January before making a decision on Mangala.
Their need for defensive reinforcements has already been made very public by Pep Guardiola, and until they know if they can get their targets, the former Porto star will continue to be in the Spaniard’s squads and stay in Manchester.
However, once they know more about John Stones’ recovery, a move could be back on for the Frenchman, and Le Foot explain a move away could ‘entertain his last hope of playing the World Cup’, even if that seems like a very distant dream right now.
