Tottenham Hotspur are preparing a £17m bid for FC Porto defender Eliaquim Mangala at the end of the season, according to the Daily Star.

Andre Villas-Boas
Andre Villas-Boas has sent scouts to watch Porto's Eliaquim Mangala from past two months.

The report suggests Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas has already sent scouts to monitor the central defender in action in the last two months and AVB has already contacted his former club in regards to the 22-year-old's possible summer switch to White Hart Lane. Mangala has been in impressive form for the Portuguese club and has featured in all the Champions League games this season.

The Daily Star claims a source close to Mangala claims the central defender is keen on a move to England or Italy. Serie A giants AC Milan are also interested in his services.

"He wants to improve his career and to play in England or Italy would be a dream," Daily Star quoted a source as saying

The ex-Chelsea manager had earlier revealed to trim the squad in the summer as AVB is set to reduce the number of central defenders from five to four. This could see William Gallas, 35, leave the club at the end of the season. In addition to this, Younes Kaboul is also linked with a move away from the Lane as the Daily Mail reports Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala are interested in the French international's services.

Should the report be true, the 22-year-old is likely to replace the ex-Arsenal man in Spurs central defence as Gallas is numbering his days at the north London club. However, it will not be an easy task for AVB to land Mangala as the same report also suggests Fulham and Newcastle United are also keeping a tab on the central defender.

Wenger Gives Injury Update Ahead of Derby Clash

Arsene Wenger
Arsene Wenger has few in jury concerns ahead of the north London derby against Tottenham Hotspur.

Arsene Wenger has revealed defenders Bacary Sagna and Kieran Gibbs are ruled out for the derby game against Spurs while Abou Diaby has a 50:50 chance of featuring for Arsenal on Sunday.

"[Sagna] is not ready for Sunday. It is too short for him. Kieran is not back. That was as we expected. Abou is an uncertainty. He has a calf problem, a minor one. It is question of days. He will have tests and then we will see if we can use him on Sunday or not. It is a 50:50. Actually maybe a bit more for him playing," Wenger explained.

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