Manchester City Transfer News: Contract, Fee Reportedly Set for Aymeric Laporte

Aymeric Laporte will reportedly undergo a medical at Manchester City next week after the Premier League leaders agreed a fee and a contract for the Athletic Bilbao centre-back on Friday.

City have agreed to pay the Basque club £57 million, according to Mark Dobson and Fabrizio Romano of the Guardian, who also reported "the 23-year-old is expected to sign a five-year contract at the Etihad Stadium."

If the deal goes through, City will break their transfer record, having paid £55 million for Kevin De Bruyne back in 2014, per the same report.

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Speculation Laporte will move to Manchester has been building recently, but all parties remained cagey about the prospect of the deal going through on Friday.

City manager Pep Guardiola shied away from questions about the negotiations, simply saying: "He's a player of Athletic Bilbao," per Declan Olley of Sky Sports.

James Robson of the Manchester Evening News explained why Guardiola was content to keep his cards close to his chest:

Atheltic boss Jose Angel Ziganda was even more reluctant when speaking after his side drew with Eibar in La Liga on Friday. Ziganda told Spanish publication Marca (h/t BT Sport): "Let's see if this rumour which seems so widespread is confirmed. He has not told me he is going to City."

The Athletic manager was explaining the decision to leave Laporte out of the squad for the visit of Eibar. His absence only increases the chances City will soon confirm the deal to sign a much-needed new centre-back.

Defence is one of the few vulnerable areas in Guardiola's squad, particularly in the middle. There are question marks due to Vincent Kompany's continued inability to avoid injury, while both John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi are prone to errors. Depth also remains a major concern given only Frenchman Eliaquim Mangala is available.

Laporte would add the pace and technique Guardiola needs at the heart of City's back four. The ability to play out from defence would be welcome in a team built to boss possession.

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If there are concerns, they relate to consistency and staying fit. They are issues similar to those experienced by all of City's incumbent centre-backs, but few offer the star potential Laoporte boasts.

Guardiola is well aware of the 23-year-old's promise, having tried to sign him in a deal worth £39.6 million back in 2016, per Pete Oliver of the Daily Telegraph.

While City were unsuccessful then, Guardiola has consistently shown a willingness to spend big on retooling his defence. Stones cost £47.5 million in 2016, while Kyle Walker and Benjamin Mendy each arrived for over £50 million last summer.

Paying up for Laporte would give the Citizens a possible young linchpin, who would be able to ensure their defence gets closer to same level as their free-flowing and prolific attack.