Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur defender target Eliaquim Mangala has revealed he is willing to leave Porto and join a top Premier League club in the summer.

Recent reports claimed United and Spurs were chasing the 22-year-old centre-back, who is rated at around £17m. Mangala admitted he was flattered at being linked with a move to the English top flight and also stated he would look at his options at the end of this season.

Eliaquim Mangala (R) and Julio Baptista
Reuters

"I have a contract here till June 2016, however all players want to play one day in the top league in Europe. I am no different to that. To be linked with clubs of the stature of Tottenham or Manchester United is the best feeling. I want to finish the season strongly and see at the end of the season if the reports are true," Sky Sports quoted the Porto star.

Mangala, who moved to Porto from Standard Liege for €6.5m [£5.6m] in 2011, has made 29 appearances in all competitions this season, scoring four times. The France U21 international, who is of Congolese descent, also holds a Belgian passport, having lived in the country since he was five.

Manchester City, Arsenal, AC Milan and Bayern Munich are also understood to be keeping tabs on Mangala.

AVB Wants Second Place

Meanwhile, Andre Villas-Boas claims Spurs are now trying to catch second-placed Manchester City, who are five points ahead of them in the league table.

While the north London outfit's main target is to clinch an automatic Champions League qualification spot, the Portuguese tactician is confident his side can close down the five-point gap between themselves and the defending champions, with City set to visit White Hart Lane on 21 April.

"They have the experience of winning the league, I think in their mind they are still focusing on it. They have to come here (on 21st April). We have to play them still within this margin of five points at White Hart Lane. We could still put a threat to them. Our focus is on bridging gaps for the people in behind us," Villas-Boas stressed.

Spurs take on Arsenal in the north London derby at the Lane on Sunday.

Manchester United FC London