Rumour: Manchester City closing in on Porto duo Eliaquim Mangala and Fernando

Eliaquim Mangala (C) and Fernando (R)

Manchester City are reportedly closing in on a deal that will see both Eliaquim Mangala and Fernando join the club from Porto at the end of the season for a combined £41 million fee.

The pair were strongly linked with a move to the Etihad in January, with talk that one or both of them were flying in to complete a deal on transfer deadline day, though no deal materialised in the end.

However, according to the Telegraph, City could resurrect their interest in the pair for the summer as reports suggest they are close to agreeing a deal that will see both players linked up with Manuel Pellegrini’s side for next season.

They will have to pay more for Fernando than they would had to a month ago as the Brazilian has signed a new deal with Porto recently, which commits him to the club until 2017, whereas during the January transfer window his deal was due to expire at the end of the season.

This appears to have been a move purely to prevent Fernando walking away on a free transfer, though, and the Brazilian is reportedly still for sale should a club stump up around £15m.

Mangala, meanwhile, is one of the hottest properties in Europe and currently has a string of clubs keen on his signature but City’s financial muscle gives them an advantage in meeting Porto’s reported £30m asking price.

The deals could provoke a few departures from City in the summer, with Joleon Lescott confirming his desire to leave when his contract expires and the futures of Martin Demichelis and Jack Rodwell unclear currently.

Fernando has made ten interceptions in five Europa League games this season, having made 15 in the six Champions League group games.