Barcelona Transfer News: Luis Suarez Exit Link, Latest Aymeric Laporte Rumours

Incoming Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reportedly wants his brother and agent, Pere, to help convince Barcelona striker Luis Suarez to return to the Premier League this summer.

Pere represents both his brother and former Liverpool attacking talisman Suarez. Guardiola is counting on his sibling to make a deal with his old club happen, according to Neil Fissler of the Daily Express.

Matthias Schrader/Associated Press

But the same report indicated any potential deal would have caveats, including the payment of the final £13 million Barca owe Liverpol for Suarez:

"

Express Sport has learned that Barcelona would like City to pay it for them as part of any overall deal.

City must also secure a top-four spot in the Premier League as Suarez has made it clear that he would never join a club who were not playing in the Champions League.

"

It's an ambitious thought from former Barcelona chief Guardiola. Yet there's no doubt signing Suarez would be a major coup for any of the Premier League's contenders.

The Uruguayan has been exceptional since moving to the Camp Nou in 2014, helping the club win the treble last season. He's already helped himself to 26 goals in La Liga so far during this campaign, according to WhoScored.com.

But Suarez struggled to make a difference during his club's 2-1 home defeat on Saturday to fierce rivals Real Madrid in the Clasico.

ESPN FC's Francesc Tomas chided Barca's No. 9 for a largely anonymous display: "With his early miss definitely playing up in his mind, Barca's top goalscorer of the season became increasingly frustrated as the game developed and became largely ineffective when his team needed him the most."

Still, a rare off day wouldn't be enough to put off the legion of suitors Suarez would surely attract should he become available. But one other factor may weigh against Guardiola's proposed pursuit.

Back in February, Suarez told ESPN (h/t Matt Maltby of the Daily Mail) he'd favour just one destination if he came back to England's top flight: "If I was to return to England, it would be to play for Liverpool—not for any other team."

Alastair Grant/Associated Press

But the chance to work with a manager as highly regarded as Guardiola, as well as the bumper financial package City would surely offer, would be tough to turn down. Of course, all this assumes Suarez will want to leave Barca.

He's made their ultratalented squad better but has also improved himself while playing alongside Lionel Messi and Neymar. Barcelona can still repeat last season's treble heroics, and their position as certain annual contenders for the game's biggest trophies would surely be difficult to walk away from.

Aymeric Laporte Set for City

One player Barca may see City beat them to is young Athletic Bilbao centre-back Aymeric Laporte. The 21-year-old has reportedly already agreed to join City for the chance to work with Guardiola, per Gianluca Di Marzio (h/t Liam Spence of the Daily Express).

Barca have been heavily linked with Laporte for most of this season, but those links have rarely borne fruit. The player himself indicated he may turn down the offer to move to the Camp Nou during an interview with French program Telefoot (h/t Goal.com's Tom Webber) back in February.

But another interview with Football365 (h/t Sport's Lluis Miguelsanz) appeared to suggest the French defender does want to play for Barca one day.

Confusion still reigns with this rumour, despite the latest claims regarding City, but Barca's need for a young, quality centre-back is beyond dispute.

Javier Mascherano is 31, while Jeremy Mathieu is 32. Meanwhile, ex-Arsenal man Thomas Vermaelen still struggles for form and fitness.

Snagging Laporte would give manager Luis Enrique a young talisman he could build a refreshed defence around.

But Enrique won't want to make any changes to the deadliest forward line in Europe. So expect Suarez to stay put despite Guardiola's family connections.