From Italy: Serie A club have ‘low-risk’ strategy to sign Manchester City defender for free

Italian giants Inter are keen to bet on Eliaquim Mangala despite the player’s disappointing spell at Manchester City and no competitive appearances since suffering a knee injury on loan at Everton in February.

The 27-year-old is emerging as a serious contender to bolster the Nerazzurri’s defence this month because of his availability and low cost.

According to Sportmediaset in Italy, Inter chiefs Giuseppe Marotta and Piero Ausilio view Mangala as a low-risk signing, where they could obtain him on a dry loan (no obligation to buy) with no costs except covering the player’s salary.

Mangala’s Manchester City contract is up in June and were he to prove himself at a high level while at the San Siro, Inter would then offer him a three-year contract.

Inter want four established central defenders and plan to add Atletico Madrid veteran Diego Godin to a backline that boasts Milan Skriniar and Stefan de Vrij in the summer, with Mangala seen as an ideal fourth option.

Mangala has also been linked with Istanbul giants Galatasaray and Fenerbahce, but might favour a move to Inter, who currently sit third in Serie A.