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SHORT AT THE BACK?

Man City to miss out on £80m transfer target Maguire unless they can flog Mangala and Otamendi

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MANCHESTER CITY look set to miss out on £80million-rated Harry Maguire - unless they first sell Eliaquim Mangala and Nicolas Otamendi.

Pep Guardiola has been looking to bring in the Leicester and England star, but knows he will have to act fast to beat rivals Manchester United to the punch.

 Man City may have to make sacrifices to sign Harry Maguire
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Man City may have to make sacrifices to sign Harry MaguireCredit: Getty
 Nicolas Otamendi could be sold to make room for Harry Maguire
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Nicolas Otamendi could be sold to make room for Harry MaguireCredit: Getty

But much like the Red Devils, City may too need to sell before they can buy, with Mangala and Otamendi on the chopping block.

The Etihad side know that any more big-money signings - and additional monster wages - could push them over the edge in terms of FFP regulations.

They will therefore look to sell, with Mangala's future at the club seemingly over regardless, having spent time on loan at Valencia and Everton in recent years.

Otamendi had cemented himself as key cog in the Man City back-line, but the arrival of Aymeric Laporte and form of John Stones has seen him slip down the pecking order.

If Guardiola does sell the struggling pair and manage to bring in Maguire, he would be left with just THREE natural centre-backs, after Vincent Kompany's departure.

HAPPY FOR NOW

But the Spanish chief isn't worried, saying: "We are so happy with the squad we have.

"I don’t know if the players here will stay or new players will come, but I am delighted with the players we have.

"We have three incredible central defenders and Fernandinho can play in that position.”

United, for now at least, appear to still be in the driving seat for Maguire, but Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers has issued them a deadline.

The ex-Liverpool boss claimed: “There will be a cut-off point. We can’t leave ourselves short.

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"There are targets we have in mind if Harry was to move on. But we don’t have to sell.

“If the valuation isn’t met it certainly won’t be allowed to go to the very end because, if we did want to bring someone in, it would be too late.

“So there will be a point – even if the valuation is met - it may just be too late.”

 Eliaquim Mangala's time at Man City looks to be over, too
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Eliaquim Mangala's time at Man City looks to be over, tooCredit: Getty
Brendan Rodgers claims ‘no great change’ in Harry Maguire’s chase as Man United eye £80m transfer
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