Newcastle United are reportedly pursuing Manchester City duo Eliaquim Mangala and Fernando.
Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez celebrates
According to the Daily Mail, Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez has held talks with Manchester City’s Director of Football Txiki Begiristain over a double deal for Eliaquim Mangala and Fernando.
Newcastle won the Championship title with a 3-0 victory over Barnsley on Sunday afternoon, and with manager Benitez committing his future to the club, the attention will turn to summer spending.
The Chronicle reported on Wednesday that Benitez will be given around £100million to spend on new signings this summer, and it appears that he is laying the groundwork for a double swoop.
The Daily Mail report that Benitez has spoken to his fellow Spaniard Txiki Begiristain, the Director of Football at Manchester City, about signing defender Eliaquim Mangala as well as midfielder Fernando.
Manchester City’s Eliaquim Mangala
Centre back Mangala, 26, was a big-money signing for City in 2014 having impressed with Porto, but the French international struggled to make an impact at the Etihad Stadium, and was sent out on loan to Valencia last summer.
A powerful centre back whose marking and awareness has been heavily criticised, Mangala has played regularly with Valencia, but needs a fresh start on a permanent basis – and Benitez appears keen to bring him to Newcastle.
Manchester City’s Fernando
Benitez’s other target, midfielder Fernando, also joined City from Porto in the summer of 2014, but has featured in just 61 Premier League games in three seasons.
The 29-year-old Brazilian holding midfielder, nicknamed ‘The Octopus’, has struggled to feature under Pep Guardiola this season, and could welcome a move to Newcastle, with Benitez opening talks already.
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