The Newcastle defense this season has probably not been good enough, and it culminated yesterday in the side conceding 3 goals in the last 28 minutes of the season.
Eliaquim Mangala – strong French center-back
So it’s good to hear this morning that Newcastle may be after a top young center-back.
The Daily Mail is reporting that Newcastle are interested in 20 year-old 6’2″ Eliaquim Mangala of Belgium club Standard Leige.
Mangala is French of Congolese descent and he has already played 10 times for the France U21 side, and holds both French and Belgium passports.
He is a highly rated young player on the continent.
In November of 2009, at just 18 years old Mangala was selected for the France Under-21 team, for a friendly match against Tunisia, and he made his debut in that game.
Mangala joined Standard Leige in 2007 and has so far played 81 times for the Belgium side with 3 goals.
Mangala was born in the northwestern Parisian suburb of Colombes, but moved to Belgium at the age of five and lived in the French-speaking city of Namur.
As a youngster, Mangala played for French minor clubs AC Lustin, CS Wépionnais, and Namur before joining Standard Leige.
In October of 2008, he signed his first professional contract agreeing a five-year deal with the club, and initially played at left before then moving to center-back.
That reminds us a little of Sebastien Bassong, whom Newcastle bought for £500K from Metz in the summer of 2008 before selling him 10 months later for £8M to Spurs, but that was after Newcastle had been relegated two years ago.
Mangala has been in excellent form for Standard Leige this season, and the youngster has already attracted the interest of Italian powerhouse AC Milan.
It’s good that Newcastle will be bringing in some good young players this summer, and from what we can tell, Eliaquim looks a very good player in the making.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
NUFC News 24/7
16 responses so far ↓
1 G // May 23, 2011 at 11:40 AM
When I saw the photo I thought it was a liverpool player. Not seen him play, but some of the threads about him are very complimentary.
2 GeordieToon89 // May 23, 2011 at 11:41 AM
its also in the daily mail so take it with a pinch of salt
3 mickyord // May 23, 2011 at 11:45 AM
im massive
4 roshan MAGPIE // May 23, 2011 at 11:50 AM
if he comes can be a good squad player
5 G // May 23, 2011 at 11:53 AM
congratulations mickyord.
6 GeordieGerman // May 23, 2011 at 11:59 AM
mickyord, size doesn’t count mate. It’s how you use it.
7 GeordieGerman // May 23, 2011 at 12:02 PM
mickyord, have you tried:
http://www.braggingaboutmydong.com
8 G // May 23, 2011 at 12:03 PM
I see AP’s comments about the standard of the SPL have touched a nerve:
http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_6946717,00.html
9 The_pirate // May 23, 2011 at 12:04 PM
We should target Samba. He’s a colossus, nothing fancy just a pure defender. Strong, dominant, great position, brave, good organiser, a leader, still only 25/26 and with him and Saylor we’d get 10 – 15 goals just from them!
10 Nufc_mo // May 23, 2011 at 12:10 PM
Samba, tiote, M’bengue in one team…
are we building a football team? or a solid wall?
11 GeordieToon89 // May 23, 2011 at 12:12 PM
agreed Pirate – samba just turned 27 but would be a great signing, although i would like to have Scott Dann he’s only 24 and is a class act.. i think arsenal want samba aswel a dont think we would be able to comepete with the bigger teams for him Scott Dann would be cheaper aswel
12 GeordieToon89 // May 23, 2011 at 12:12 PM
football team going forward solid wall at the back haha
13 Nufc_mo // May 23, 2011 at 12:15 PM
Guy demel — saylor – Samba – M’bengue
Tiote
Lennon barton Arfa
Sturridge Gervino
14 GeordieToon89 // May 23, 2011 at 12:21 PM
cant believe we got offered Lennon for £1million and Souness turned it down grrr
15 Nufc_mo // May 23, 2011 at 12:36 PM
Souness is and always will be a Twit.
16 supervil // May 23, 2011 at 1:13 PM
@nufc_mo
Your type make me crease.
No Nolan? No Colo? No Enrique? No Simpson?
Gan back to Footy Manager and get a grip will ya?
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