Orel Mangala saga takes another late transfer twist amid Everton and Fiorentina battle
Orel Mangala’s move to Everton is back on track despite the midfielder wanting to join Fiorentina, Gianluca Di Marzio.
According to the Sky Sports Italia journalist on his website’s latest update (5.40pm, 29 August) the Lyon midfielder’s “future is Everton”, with no chance for him to join the Serie A club instead.
The Ligue 1 side’s president made a commitment to do a deal with the Toffees and has refused to change his mind.
Di Marzio had reported in an earlier update the same day that Mangala and his agents were now pushing to join Fiorentina after a loan-to-buy move from Italy.
Everton set to for dramatic signing to replace Amadou Onana
After the Toffees got a medical booked for the former Nottingham Forest midfielder [Fabrizio Romano, 29 August] it would have been all the more crushing to lose out last minute.
Sean Dyche may still wish to have a sit down with the 26-year-old once he arrives to ensure he is fully engaged despite his apparent preference to move to Serie A.
But the manager has been looking for an Amadou Onana replacement since long before his exit to Aston Villa this summer [Daily Mail, 28 May].
His Belgian international teammate fits the bill at a time when it was starting to look like Dyche would need to make do with just Tim Ireogbunham, who has admittedly made an impressive start on Merseyside.
Kalvin Phillips, Jens Cajuste and Lesley Ugochukwu were of interest at Goodison Park and all headed elsewhere inside one 24-hour window to leave Everton empty-handed.
It looks like Mangala is now going to address that although, if this one is now confirmed, it won’t have been without some late scares.
In other Everton news, a senior Toffees striker has been spotted with another club’s scarf after a late permanent exit agreement.
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