Eliaquim Mangala could be handed a lifeline at Manchester City if Pep Guardiola fails to sign a new centre-back before the transfer window closes.
The Frenchman has been a major disappointment since joining City in a £42million deal in 2014, and spent last season on loan at Valencia.
Mangala, 26, was set to join the defensive clear-out at the Etihad this summer after accepting that he was surplus to requirements under Guardiola.
But with City running out of time to sign a fourth-choice centre-back to replace Aleksandar Kolarov, Mangala may yet earn a reprieve.