Chelsea consider Porto man as they seek to bolster defence

It has been reported that Chelsea manager-in-waiting Jose Mourinho is keen to boost the club’s defensive options over the summer and Eliaquim Mangala has been mooted a number of times already.

The 22-year-old Frenchman has made his way into the first team of one of Mourinho’s former clubs Porto this season playing 29 matches and scoring four goals. He’s highly rated in Europe but would want the promise of regular football if he was to move as he’s attempting to earn himself an international call-up with the French international squad ahead of the 2014 World Cup.

Porto are a club under raid at the moment as Joao Moutinho and James Rodriguez have made shock moves to nouveau riche French club AS Monaco for a combined €70 million, so negotiating the sale of another player is probably the last thing on their minds right now as they will concentrate on seeking replacements for the stars they have lost.

They aren’t in need of the money after receiving such big cash injection either, so will probably dig their heels in over Mangala and demand more than he’s worth – as they tend to do because they’re Porto and the player is content so probably wouldn’t attempt to force a move through himself.

This one looks unlikely for the moment but Chelsea’s defence needs a fair bit of work as Ashley Cole, Gary Cahill and Branislav Ivanovic had poor seasons, whilst John Terry was also off-form and spent much of the campaign struggling for fitness. David Luiz was our most improved defender but still shows lapses in concentration. I thought Cesar Azpilicueta had a very good debut season though and am sure he will improve as he continues as first choice right-back in the next campaign.

Would you like to seee Mangala in a blue shirt, or would you prefer we signed an alternative? – Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below

Source: Here is the City