Manchester City Transfer News: Latest on Joe Hart and Eliaquim Mangala Rumours

Txiki Begiristain, Manchester City’s director of football, wants to make goalkeeper Joe Hart “happy” in the final days of the transfer window by finding him a new club.

The England international doesn’t look to have a future at the Etihad Stadium, with new manager Pep Guardiola preferring Willy Caballero in the opening two games of the Premier League campaign and signing Claudio Bravo from Barcelona on Thursday, per the club’s official website. It leaves Hart in a difficult position.

“I think we're going to try to find a good solution for everybody," Begiristain said, per David Manuca of Goal. “Now we have one week and we have to make him [Hart] happy and if he can find a solution and find a club where he has a real chance to play regularly. So we're going to try to help him, because he deserves the best answer from us.”

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Hart started for City in their UEFA Champions League play-off second leg with Steaua Bucharest on Wednesday and was given a rousing reception by the Etihad crowd. It was an occasion that had the feeling of a farewell, as the club moves in a different direction under the guidance of Guardiola.

Where Hart will end up will be intriguing. As noted by Bleacher Report UK, Everton manager Ronald Koeman made his feelings clear on taking the goalkeeper on Thursday:

In practice, a goalkeeper of Hart’s calibre shouldn’t be short of suitors. The 29-year-old has been key to City securing two Premier League titles during his time with the club, showing both brilliant goalkeeping ability and excellent leadership skills.

But plenty of elite clubs in England have top-quality goalkeepers already in place, and given the wages Hart would command, it’s understandable that some wouldn’t be too keen to bring him in.

Nevertheless, as the transfer window edges to a close, there will surely be a club that’ll see the benefits of spending big on a proven Premier League stopper.

Tottenham Linked with Eliaquim Mangala

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According to Dan Kilpatrick of ESPN FC, Tottenham Hotspur are considering making a move for out-of-favour City centre-back Eliaquim Mangala.

Since joining the club from FC Porto in 2014 for a Guardian-reported £42 million, the France international has struggled to show his best form in the Premier League and hasn’t been included in any of Guardiola’s matchday squads. Spurs, it seems, are seeking to capitalise on the situation.

Kilpatrick suggested it is “unclear” whether the London club will pursue a permanent deal or a loan move and whether City would let Mangala depart for a potential title rival.

As noted by Bleacher Report's Tom Sunderland, Guardiola has turned to some intriguing options at centre-back before giving Mangala a chance:

The former Porto man arrived at City amid plenty of hype, having excelled in Portugal. A brilliant debut against Chelsea triggered further excitement, although lapses in concentration, rash tackling and poor positional play have rendered Mangala a figure of ridicule for many supporters.

There have been times when he has impressed, most notably when in partnership with authoritative City skipper Vincent Kompany. With that in mind, alongside players such as Toby Alderweireld or Jan Vertonghen, we could see a more consistent and refined version of the defender should he move to White Hart Lane.