Friday, 30th August, 2013
FC Porto have put an end to talks with Manchester City over defender Eliaquim Mangala, fearing that with the imminent closure of the transfer window they do not have time to replace the 22-year-old.
The Citizens had agreed to pay the €45m required for Mangala and yesterday even arranged for a plane to fly to Portugal to collect the defender to fly him to England.
Porto though, having thought long and hard about a potential switch, have decided to end discussions, according to L'Equipe, declaring they had no time to replace Mangala.
Now Manchester City are turning to a considerably less expensive back-up option in the shape of Martin Demichelis.
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Citizens manager Manuel Pellegrini knows the 32-year-old well from his time at Malaga, but allowed the defender to slip through his fingers earlier this summer, when his contract expired.
Demichelis subsequently joined Atletico Madrid, who are prepared to sell him to Manchester City for around €4m.
Atletico Madrid are on the verge of bringing in another centre-back, Toby Alderweireld, who could serve as Demichelis' replacement.
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