West Ham and Newcastle make late bids to sign Eliaquim Mangala on loan
WEST HAM and Newcastle have made late bids to sign Manchester City outcast Eliaquim Mangala.
City are understood to be open to offers for their French international defender after completing the £57million signing of Aymeric Laporte.
And Premier League duo West Ham and Newcastle have been quick to make contact with the view to taking Mangala on loan for the rest of the season.
Mangala, 26, has dropped further down the pecking order for a starting role following the arrival of Laporte from Athletic Bilbao.
He was already fourth choice in Pep Guardiola's squad behind Nicolas Otamendi, John Stones and captain Vincent Kompany.
But now the £32m defender is surplus to requirements and will be allowed to leave the Etihad this week if the right deal comes up.
Boss Guardiola said today: "Manga has helped us this season. I don’t have doubts about his qualities. Defensively he is a top, top, top player.
"When we go to Laporte it is because he adds something on the ball. Mangala helps us a lot when Vincent was out and John Stones."
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The two relegation rivals are looking to bolster their squads before the transfer window closes on Wednesday night.
Yet they also face strong competition for Mangala's services from Valencia, where he spent last season on loan in La Liga.
Valencia are pushing for qualification for the Champions League next season and see him as the ideal player to help bolster their second half of the campaign.
But Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez believes he can provide quality and experience in his side as they look to climb away from relegation danger.
Benitez is desperate to make a couple of signings to improve his defence and his forward line after finally being given the clearance to spend money by owner Mike Ashley.
Having failed with a bid to sign Daniel Sturridge on loan, he is now looking to revive a deal with Feyenoord for Danish striker Nicolai Jorgensen.
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Hammers boss David Moyes is also keen to make some late signings after seeing his squad ripped apart by an injury crisis.
Captain Winston Reid has been blighted by injuries in recent months, and James Collins is another who has struggled for fitness at stages this season.
If he could capture Mangala Moyes believes it would go a long way to helping shore up his defence as the Hammers try to move further away from the bottom three.
Should Mangala be an option it could see the Hammers allow Joe Hart to leave - with rules preventing them having two players on loan from one club at the same time.