Despite expressing a desire to continue with FC Porto, Eliaquim Mangala is attracting interest from top European clubs. AS Monaco is reportedly considering making a move, while two English clubs and a Spanish team are also in the race for the Franco-Congolese defender.
Jose Mourinho, now at AS Monaco, has been monitoring Mangala since June. Manchester United’s recruitment unit observed the French international during Porto’s recent victory against Maritimo (3-0), as reported by the Daily Mirror.
Competition for Mangala’s signature includes two prominent English clubs and FC Barcelona. Barcelona sent representatives to Dragao to assess the 22-year-old’s performance in the same match. According to Porto’s sporting director, Gil Vincente, as mentioned in Mundo Deportivo, “Mangala has a profile to play for Barça. He has a good vision of the game, he is calm, and he has the qualities to play on the ball. In terms of velocity and speed, he is double Puyol.”
Mangala’s release clause is set at 50 million euros, but there are suggestions that Porto might be open to offers exceeding 14 million euros, according to the Daily Mirror.
