Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez has already held discussions with Manchester City Director of Football Txiki Begiristain about the possibility of signing defender Eliaquim Mangala, Daily Mail journalist Dominic King reports.
The 26 year old signed from Porto in 2014 for €30m (£26m) but failed to impress during his two years at the Etihad stadium. He was shipped off to Valencia on a season long loan at the start of the season, where he has been regular in the La Liga side’s backline.
Despite having a purchase option to buy the player outright at the end of the season, the Spanish club are likely to allow the player to return to City in the summer, even though the centre half has played 31 times during his loan spell.
Mangala, who has been capped on eight occasions by France, is not wanted by Guardiola, and with Newcastle now committed to spending on new recruits after Benitez agreed terms with Magpies owner Mike Ahsley, it seems the centre back could well be one of the first names through the door at St James Park.
