Everton confident of signing Eliaquim Mangala from Manchester City on loan
Sam Allardyce makes late bid to take £32million defender Mangala to Goodison Park at the end of the season to bolster leaky defence
EVERTON are hoping to sign Eliaquim Mangala on loan until the end of the season.
Toffees manager Sam Allardyce has moved quickly to target the French international after learning Manchester City were open to offers for him.
Allardyce believes Mangala can come in to help bolster a defence he believes is leaking too many goals despite his work with them on the training ground.
And Everton are growing increasingly confident they can get the deal done before the transfer window closes tonight.
The Toffees will pay all of Mangala's wages, believed to be about £65,000 a week.
It emerged yesterday that City were prepared to listen to offers for the 26-year-old after they completed the signing of Aymeric Laporte.
City splashed out £57million to sign Laporte from Athletic Bilbao yesterday as Pep Guardiola continues to strengthen a side already 12 points clear at the top of the Premier League.
That deal effectively relegated Mangala, a £32m signing from Porto in 2014, to fifth choice centre-back at the Etihad Stadium.
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Guardiola would be happy to let Mangala leave either on a loan deal or a permanent transfer to give him the opportunity of regular games.
But with so little time before the window closes tonight, a loan move looks the most likely route to take.
West Ham enquired about his services, but with Joe Hart already on loan from City they would have had to have agreed a permanent transfer or end the keeper's stay at the London Stadium.
That proved too problematic for the Hammers, but Newcastle made a move yesterday in the hope of taking him until the end of the season.
But although City would be willing to help meet some of his wages, it is believed the size of the package including the loan fee was too much for Rafa Benitez to take the deal further.
Valencia, where Mangala spent a season on loan last season, have also shown interest as the look to secure Champions League qualification.
But it is Everton who have emerged as the side most likely to get a deal done today before they face Leicester at Goodison Park tonight.
The fact they are at home gives them extra flexibility to ensure talks are concluded and a medical done in time to beat the deadline.
Mangala is not expected to be part of the City squad for their home match against West Brom tonight.