Sources: Man City willing to sell Aymeric Laporte – but he can’t join certain clubs
Aymeric Laporte could leave Man City this summer but is unlikely to stay in the Premier League, sources have told Football Insider.
It is believed that City are unwilling to strengthen their rivals by allowing the 28-year-old to join them during the off-season.
Laporte is no longer part of Pep Guardiola’s first-choice centre-back partnership and sources close to the defender have revealed that he will look for a new club at the end of the season.
The Spain international has started just six games in the Premier League this season – and has played fewer minutes than all of his fellow centre-backs at the Etihad Stadium.
Man City allowed three big-name stars to join top-flight rivals last summer in Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Raheem Sterling.
Football Insider revealed last winter (November 2022) that the Citizens will not sell any more first-team stars to Arsenal after Mikel Arteta’s side shot into title contention this season following the signings of Zinchenko and Jesus.
Laporte, who earns a reported wage of £120,000-a-week, is under contract at the club until June 2025.
He first joined the club from Athletic Club in 2018, costing Man City a reported £57.2million – a then-club-record fee.
The France-born defender has won four Premier League titles, four League Cups and an FA Cup during his time in Manchester.
However, he has been displaced in the 2022-23 season following the signing of Manuel Akanji – who has proved immense value for money since joining from Dortmund.
Man City are eight points behind Arsenal in the race for the Premier League title this season.
Guardiola’s side have a game in hand on the Gunners, and the two sides meet for the second time on 26 April.
In other news, Football Insider updates with latest on Kalvin Phillips leaving Man City.