Aymeric Laporte Reportedly Agrees Deal with Manchester City
Athletic Bilbao star Aymeric Laporte has reportedly agreed to join Manchester City, who are set to meet his €65 million (£57 million) buyout clause.
According to Marca's Juanma Velasco, he has "reached the basis of an agreement" with the Sky Blues, who are confident of confirming the deal in the coming days with the 23-year-old set to sign a five-year deal.
The centre-back almost joined the club in the summer of 2016, only to turn them down at the last moment, but City have evidently decided not to hold that against him.
BeIN Sports' David Cartlidge is not particularly enthused about the prospect of Laporte joining the Sky Blues:
It would seem he's alone on this matter, however.
Football writers Shane Burns and Rafael Hernandez are keen admirers of the defender and believe he would be a superb capture for City:
"Laporte is a superb signing and one for now, and also the future. €65million is a lot of money but there’s a player for 7-10 years in there. Well done City and Txiki if they get this over the line.
— Shane Burns (@ShaneBurns_) January 23, 2018"
"It’s hard to pinpoint exactly why, but every time I watch Laporte, I just feel he could become the next great world class centre back. Hence my frustration since he turned down Barça and City in the past, needs to be ambitious with his career.
— Rafael Hernández (@RafaelH117) January 23, 2018"
The Frenchman is widely considered to be one of the most promising young centre-backs in Europe, and he already has 222 appearances for the club having established himself as a key player over the last five seasons.
Laporte seems tailor-made to thrive under City boss Pep Guardiola.
He has the physical attributes you want in a defender, being tall, quick and strong, but he also has plenty in the way of technical ability, and he can bring the ball out from the back and pick a pass.
His arrival would also give Guardiola the option of playing with three at the back, a system he has briefly experimented with on a handful of occasions this year but perhaps lacks the personnel to employ with confidence.
Laporte can strengthen the Sky Blues squad and make for a superb long-term capture, and he'll take City a step further towards Guardiola's vision.
