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Coral rumour reel: Otamendi for Mangala at Man City and WBA exits

| 17.08.2015
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Manchester City, now firm 6/5 favourites with Coral to regain the Premier League title, are rumoured to be closing in on the capture of Argentina international centre back Nicolas Otamendi, and will send Etihad misfit Eliaquim Mangala on loan to Valencia as an incentive, according to the tabloids.

Otamendi, 27, was previously and consistently linked with City’s neighbours Manchester United, but is now set to sign for Manuel Pellegrini’s men for a reported £28.5m.

France counterpart Mangala, 24, meanwhile, has failed to live up to his own hefty £31.8m pricetag, despite playing in consecutive 3-0 Premier League wins for Man City, and was a club teammate of Otamendi’s for three years at Porto.

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One of those sides battered by City was West Bromwich Albion, now 3/1 to be relegated, and Baggies boss Tony Pulis could let as many as five first-team players leave The Hawthorns before the transfer window slams shut, albeit for the right price.

Even though they have recently signed Cameroon forward Clinton N’Jie from Lyon and offloaded Spanish striker flop Roberto Soldado, 11/10 top six chances Spurs are set to test Albion’s resolve with a formal £15m approach for prized asset Saido Berahino.

Potentially following the Burundi-born England call-up out of the West Midlands could be African attacking trio Victor Anichebe, Brown Ideye and Stephane Sessegnon, as well as left-footed defender Joleon Lescott.

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West Brom signing Rickie Lambert and Jose Salomon Rondon means the Baggies’ existing forward options have fallen down the pecking order, and it’s a similar story for 33-year-old former Three Lions international Lescott, with Wales’ James Chester coming into defensive ranks from Hull City.

Newcastle United, 5/2 to finish in the top 10, join Everton in holding interest over Denmark international centre back Jannik Vestergaard, but the Werder Bremen player says he has received no offers.

Toffees boss Roberto Martinez also has a contingency plan if star defender John Stones finds the lure of Chelsea too strong to resist, and will raid former club Swansea City for skipper Ashley Williams. Previously linked to Arsenal and Crystal Palace, the Swans have insisted the Wales captain is not for sale.

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Author

Jamie Clark

Athletics aficionado, die-hard snooker fan and Crystal Palace supporter Jamie has written for Coral since February 2014 after spells with Soccerlens and the Press Association as a digital journalist and copywriter. A former East Midlands sports correspondent and Bwin tipster, he is a graduate of both the University of York and University of Sheffield, with a Masters in web journalism from the latter.