According to a report by Spanish publication AS, Valencia defender Nicolas Otamendi has completed a transfer to Manchester City and will be unveiled Monday, with Eliaquim Mangala headed the other way on loan.
Mangala has started both league games for City thus far, and word of his departure leaked to the public while he was on the field for City against Chelsea at the Etihad.
They’ve added a hefty amount of attacking options to the squad this summer, and now it seems they’ve bolstered the defense as well.
AS reports Manchester City will pay Valencia a $44 million fee plus the Mangala loan, which seems like a very hefty sum for a player in Otamendi who has demanded to leave. He is under contract with the Spanish club until 2019.
The 27-year-old Argentinian moved to Valencia just last summer from Porto for a reported $13 million, so Valencia is set to bank a large profit after owning him for just one season. He has reportedly asked to be left out of the squad for Valencia’s upcoming Champions League match against Monaco, and missed training Sunday.
Mangala made 25 Premier League appearances last season and often appeared a step behind, but has looked considerably improved this young season, enough to push Martin Demichelis to the bench. It is unclear if there is an option to buy for Valencia on Mangala’s loan.