Mangala closing in on Valencia loan from Manchester City - report

Manchester City defender Eliaquim Mangala is closing on a deal with Valencia to join the Spanish side on loan, according to Guillem Balague of Sky Sports. The French center-back will be the replacement for new Arsenal signing Shkodran Mustafi, who left Valencia to join the Gunners on Tuesday.

Mangala was very close to joining his former club FC Porto on loan, but Valencia came into the scene after the Mustafi deal was announced and offered City a better financial situation. The Citizens are subsiding most of the loans, meaning they're agreeing to pay a portion of the wages of the players going out on loan (Hart, Nasri, Bony, Denayer), but Valencia will take care of Mangala's entire salary during his season at the club, which is certainly good news for City.

Mangala arrived in Spain today for medicals and contract signing, and once everything checks out, the deal will be announced by Valencia and City before the transfer deadline.