According to reports, FC Barcelona still interested in signing Aymeric Laporte. The center-back has reportedly informed Manchester City that he wants to depart this summer.
Mundo Deportivo claims that the “titan” of the Etihad Stadium has informed the team of his desire. He wants to leave at the conclusion of the current campaign. Laporte relegated to the sidelines this year due to the acquisition of Manuel Akanji last summer.
With Rico Lewis emerging as Manchester City next golden child. And Nathan Ake taking on a more active role under Pep Guardiola. It seems logical that Laporte would be eager to leave the team this summer. Barcelona already interested in signing the former Athletic Bilbao star.
According to the source, Barcelona has been keeping tabs on Laporte’s status at Manchester City for a while. And now that the defender has declared his want to go, the Catalan club may have a chance to make a move in the summer transfer window.
Barcelona looking to acquire Manchester City defender Laporte
In fact, with Manchester City acquiring Laporte from Bilbao for a reported £57 million, there is a chance that the defending Premier League winners may even turn a profit on the defender, depending on Barcelona’s finances in the summer when it is anticipated that the Camp Nou team will sell players.
Selling Laporte makes sense for Guardiola and his long-term intentions for the team, as City is hoping to add a central defender this summer. A deal that would see the Basque-born star depart will be advantageous for all parties.
Laporte has had a remarkable career at City. Where he has won multiple trophies with Guardiola’s team and been a staunch Etihad Stadium fan favourite. Nonetheless, most people concur that the defender has every right to depart the team this summer.
Given that Ruben Dias is a reliable presence at the back and that Manchester City already has intentions to recruit a centre-back in the transfer window, it seems sense that Laporte would be the fall guy in this window given that Akanji proved to be one of the best signings of the previous summer.
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