Meet Eliaquim Mangala, Britain's most expensive defender

Manchester City have broken the British transfer record paid for a defender in a deal worth £32m by tying down Porto's Eliaquim Mangala with a 5 year deal. But with Manchester City once again flexing their financial muscle, it has left many fans scratching their heads wondering who the young French defender is and if a defender that is not considered world class really worth that?

Before applauding the signing of Mangala, there are several things wrong with the deal. The club have broken a British transfer record for a defender that is not considered world class, all be it a defender who has the potential to be. The deal represents how inflated the current transfer market is, with a few years ago a £30m fee was a price only considered for top world class players. For example, £30m was the fee Chelsea paid for Europe's most lethal striker at the time in Andriy Shevchenko, where as now clubs have to pay more than that to secure players that aren't even considered the best player in the country they played in.

Mangala has wrote himself into the record books
with his move to Man City

Manchester City are already walking along a thin line regarding the Financial Fair Play regulations implemented by FIFA and paying such a large sum certainly does not help the situation. The club have not raised funds to even out the spending either, so a few faces could leave the Ethiad in the coming weeks to make up for the purchase of Mangala. The fee itself does not all go to Porto either as the club had to pay some of that to Standard Leige and a 3rd party ownership.

However, despite the negatives of the fee, Manchester City have secured a very bright defending talent in Mangala. Strong, quick and hard in the tackle, Mangala has all the necessary qualities needed to become a top centre back. Although currently some way off the mark as a world class player,  the 23 year old has the potential to be one of the world's best centre backs if he continues his rapid rate of growth. Manager Manuel Pellegrini said: "He is already a fine player but in my opinion he has all the mental, physical, technical and tactical attributes to become one of Europe’s very best defenders."

A natural brute and notorious for his aerial ability, Mangala can match the physicality of the Premiership and is considered by Manchester City to be the long term centre back partner to Vincent Kompany. Next to the Belgian captain, Mangala will come on leaps and bounds as he will learn a lot. Mangala does have some creases in his game that need ironing out, such as his long ball distribution which at times can put his side in danger or needlessly give the ball away but, with coaching and guidance, Mangala could be a rock at the heart of defence for City for a long time.

Mangala was part of the French world cup squad
but failed to make a single appearance in Brazil

It was no secret last year that when Kompany didn't play Manchester City were defensively frail, they lacked a real leader at the back. Mangala could provide solidity at the back even when Kompany isn't playing, as the other squad players like Demichellis, Nastastic and Richards were either injured or lacking form. The signing of the French defender will no doubt strengthen the side at the back and with national team mate Bacary Sagna also arriving, Manchester City have strength in depth at the back, something they lacked last year.

Manchester City have won a European race to sign the defender with Barcelona, Chelsea and rivals Manchester United all having been linked with the Frenchman in the past. No doubt Manchester City will see this signing as a long term investment and in Mangala, they could well see a immediate return for that kind of money, something manager Pellegrini has already tipped the defender to do. The first season will be crucial at The Ethiad for Mangala...