If the Spanish media press any more about the low cost of Valencia signing Eliaquim Mangala, then it’s going to sound like Manchester City are paying Los Ches to take him away.
Monday’s edition of AS reports the defender will be ‘practically free’, and that he’s ready to take a big drop in wages to complete the transfer.
Super Deporte, a Valencia regional newspaper, saw Mangala’s wages will be ‘nothing like’ what he’s been earning at Manchester City, although neither outlet states any actual figures.
With only a year left on his contract at the Etihad, the 28 year old will either move on a free transfer or a free loan. The latter scenario may be included if it’s expected the Premier League champions would continue to part some of that contract over the course of the season.
A deal is being treated as very close in Spain, however, Super Deporte do come up with one possible problem.
Mangala has hardly played for quite some time, and part of that has been down to keen injuries, so before handing out a contract they’d want to be doubly sure.
That’s surely another reason why this move may initially be a loan.