Barcelona Transfer News: Latest on Aymeric Laporte and Aleix Vidal Rumours

Athletic Bilbao defender Aymeric Laporte has revealed why he opted to remain at San Mames despite having the opportunity to join Barcelona this past summer. Meanwhile, the Blaugrana are "looking for a solution" to Aleix Vidal's situation at the Camp Nou.

It was speculated Laporte could have moved to Catalonia, but Barca ended up signing Lyon centre-back Samuel Umtiti, while Athletic's star explained his decision to French radio station RMC (h/t Sport): 

"

Is the door shut for a big club? It has nothing to do with it. I had the chance to go to one of the clubs that wanted me but for personal reasons and to give thanks to the club that helped me reach the world of football. 

It is only to give thanks for everything they have done for me. In me they saw potential that today benefits everyone. I'm fine at Athletic.

"

Laporte instead remained with Los Leones and renewed his contract in Bilbao to give Athletic a statement of incredible loyalty, increasing his buyout clause in the process to ward off outside interest.

Little did the 22-year-old know he and Umtiti would go on to become international team-mates, or at least that's Laporte's hope after he received some good news this past week, per UEFA Euro:

Much of Laporte's youth development was undertaken in his native France, but the defender moved to Basque country from Bayonne in 2010 and has since established himself as one of Spain's greatest prospects.

Sky Sports' La Liga expert Guillem Balague also outlined how Laporte's contract renewal makes the thought of a future move to the Camp Nou that much harder to envision:

Elsewhere, Barcelona are understood to be working to resolve Vidal's position at the club after the player grew discontent with the bit-part role he's played so far this season.

That's according to Spanish newspaper Sport, which reported manager Luis Enrique still has plans for the right-sided specialist, despite the fact he's hardly featured in the first team this season:

"

Barca have told Vidal they count on him. He has a contract until 2020 and the club spent 18 million euros on bringing him in from Sevilla. His release clause is 60 million euros. 

[...]

Barcelona have transmitted to him that he still features in their plans, that they will give him more time to keep working and to try and recover Luis Enrique’s confidence. Vidal is ready to give his all to try and rectify the situation, but he’s not closing the door on a January departure, either. 

"

Enrique may not want his asset to consider a January exit from the Camp Nou, but that's the harsh reality the chief might have to face unless Vidal is handed more prominence.

ESPN FC's Sam Marsden broke down precisely why Vidal has started to doubt his future plans at the Camp Nou, having only arrived at the club last summer:

The former Sevilla ace came to Barcelona during last year's transfer embargo and was unable to officially register for the team until January 1, 2016, but he's only played 16 times since then, starting in 11 of those outings.

Sport also provided quotes from Enrique, who spoke on the matter before the recent 5-0 win over Sporting Gijon: “[Vidal’s] training well and trying to rectify the situation. It’s already happened with various players that they weren’t in my plans and then ended up being regulars. If there’s a manager open to situations changing, it’s me.”