Sam Allardyce once highlighted Everton loanee Eliaquim Mangala as Manchester City’s weak link

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Everton completed a surprise deadline day move for Eliaquim Mangala, with the defender joining on loan from Manchester City.

Everton took many fans by surprise on transfer deadline day as they completed a deal to sign Manchester City defender Eliaquim Mangala on loan for the rest of the season.

The Toffees defence has been quite problematic so far this term, so it was little surprise that they attempted to strengthen their options in the final hours of the window. However, the fact that it was Mangala who arrived at Goodison Park probably took many aback.

Mangala has endured a difficult time since arriving in the Premier League. He has never quite been able to earn the trust of the City fans during his time at the Etihad Stadium and has been a peripheral figure for Pep Guardiola’s side this term.

And what arguably makes the deal all the more intriguing is the fact that Allardyce previously alluded to the fact that he once instructed his side to try and expose Mangala, in comments reported in 2014 by the Manchester Evening News, as he felt that he was the player that would open the door for a victory – which West Ham duly earned with a 2-1 win over the Cityzens.

“I think they leave him exposed,” he said referring to Mangala. “He’s only just joined the Premier League. They don’t protect him and he’s only just got here.

“Kompany is used to it, he’s been at this level for such a long time, but this lad’s not. He’s finding his feet and we made big strides down that left-hand side and caused lots of problems.”

Mangala has certainly not been a total flop since his arrival in the Premier League, so perhaps, with a run of games, he may be capable of proving why so many have been wrong to write him off.

But there is no question that as he prepares for his potential debut at the weekend, he certainly faces an uphill battle trying to prove that the deal to bring him in was not an act of desperation, and Allardyce’s opinion was right to presumably change his opinion over the last four years.