Newcastle United have backed out of the race for Manchester City defender Eliaquim Mangala after being quoted a pricey loan fee and are keeping their focus on recruiting a striker on deadline day, according to Sky Sports News HQ.
With Manchester City signing Aymeric Laporte from Athletic Bilbao for big money, Mangala has become surplus to requirements and is expected to leave the Etihad on deadline day.
Everton are in talks with Manchester City for the French defender and it is understood that they are confident of signing him on a loan deal by the end of the day.
It is claimed Newcastle also probed the possibility of signing Mangala from Manchester City on loan but quickly backed out of a deal because of the potential cost.
The Magpies are unwilling to pay the loan fee they were quoted for Mangala and Rafael Benitez has other more pressing needs on deadline day.
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The Newcastle boss remains desperate to add a striker to his squad on deadline day and has already missed out on signing Feyenoord’s Nicolai Jorgensen.
Mangala briefly emerged as an option for Newcastle but cost of the deal means the defender is now expected to move to Merseyside with Everton today.
He could become Sam Allardyce’s third signing in January following Cenk Tosun and Theo Walcott’s arrival at Goodison Park.
