Report: West Ham challenge Newcastle for Eliaquim Mangala

Follow us on Google Discover

Manchester City defender Eliaquim Mangala is now attracting interest from West Ham United.

According to a report from The Sun, West Ham have joined Newcastle in making a late bid for Manchester City defender Eliaquim Mangala this month.

Mangala has been used sparingly this season by Pep Guardiola. The Frenchman has made nine Premier League appearances this term, with just four league starts coming in that time.

And his chances of more game-time at the Etihad Stadium have suffered a significant setback with City signing Aymeric Laporte in a deal worth £57 million earlier in the week.

The Sun reports that Mangala may now be available to leave the club on loan for the rest of the season, and West Ham have joined Newcastle in making an enquiry to take the centre-back until the summer.

If Mangala does join the Hammers or the Magpies during the final hours of the transfer window, he will undoubtedly be looking to prove that he is good enough to thrive at the highest level having never quite proved himself since he joined the Cityzens back in 2014.

And David Moyes and Rafa Benitez appear to be hoping that he may be able to give their respective defences more strength and depth during the second-half of the season as they both look to avoid getting dragged into the bottom three.

The Hammers – who are currently 11th in the table, four points clear of the drop zone – could potentially move themselves into the top half of the division tonight if they manage to beat Crystal Palace at the London Stadium.