Newcastle United are reportedly interested in signing Manchester City defender Eliaquim Mangala this summer – and fans on Twitter are not overly keen.
The Manchester Evening News claim that the newly-promoted Premier League side are prepared to hand the 26-year-old a route out of the Etihad, as Pep Guardiola prepares to toss him onto the scrap heap.
Guardiola does not see a future for Mangala at The Etihad, with the centre-back having spent the 2016-17 season on loan at La Liga outfit Valencia.
But despite talk of Newcastle preparing to rival the Spanish club for the signature of Mangala this summer, fans on Twitter are not convinced that he would be worth the club’s precious time and resources.
One compared him disparagingly to Magpies flop Jean-Alain Boumsong.
Here is a selection of their messages on Twitter:
French nah the recent history weve had with them
— TOON BARMY (@Aggaz82) May 25, 2017
https://twitter.com/RyWi11/status/867803079625846784
Big clown
— lampingman 1 (@lampingman1) May 25, 2017
Not a chance he's been terrible for Valencia
— Rob Carter (@robcarter35) May 25, 2017
High wages, poor player. ?
— Andy (@JonaOnDrums) May 25, 2017
https://twitter.com/Pedgrift4/status/867811468733022208
Can't see us paying £17m for Mangala, maybe £12m there's still a huge question mark over his ability at premier league level. #NUFC
— Southern Softie (@SSoftie) May 26, 2017
Mangala arrived at Manchester City three years ago for a reported fee of £42million from FC Porto, but Guardiola is keen to find a permanent buyer for him this summer.
The France international has made 64 appearances for the Premier League side, but has not played for the club since the 1-1 draw with Swansea on May 15 last year.
Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez, meanwhile, is after experienced reinforcements to bolster the ranks at St. James’ Park ahead of their return to the top flight.
He is of the belief that he can acquire Mangala for only a fraction of his initial £42million transfer fee, and wants owner Mike Ashley to hand him the necessary funds to front a move.