Revealed: Man City plan to accept Aymeric Laporte offer once replacement signs
Man City are planning to accept offers for centre-back Aymeric Laporte this summer, sources have told Football Insider.
It is believed the 29-year-old will be surplus to requirements at the Etihad Stadium if City succeed in bringing in a top-class defender in the off-season.
Football Insider revealed on Friday (9 June) that Man City have held initial talks with RB Leipzig over the signing of defender Josko Gvardiol.
A well-placed source has told Football Insider that Gvardiol is the “top target” for the Premier League champions heading into the summer transfer window.
If a deal can be struck, Laporte will be allowed to leave the club – five years after he made the move to Manchester.
Aston Villa have been linked with a move for the Spain international, who has two years remaining on his Man City contract.
It is believed the player is keen to exit in search of more regular first-team football after a season on the fringes of Pep Guardiola’s side.
Laporte has made 24 appearances across all competitions this term – starting in 20 of those outings.
Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake, and Manuel Akanji have all been preferred to the 28-year-old – while John Stones has been used in a holding midfield role.
Man City spent a reported club-record fee of £57million to sign Laporte from Athletic Club in 2018.
The defender, who earns a reported wage of £120,000-a-week, has won five Premier League titles, four League Cups and two FA Cups during his time at the club.
He can add a Champions League trophy to that haul when treble-chasing Man City face Inter Milan in the competition’s final on Saturday (10 June).
In other news, Celtic target senior Man City man in manager search.