Day: January 27, 2018

Manchester City are set to complete the signing of Athletic Bilbao’s defender Aymeric Laporte.

The Cityzens have been looking to sign a new defender this month but after missing out on their high profile target, they are set to settle for Laporte. Pep Guardiola had demanded the signing of Virgil van Dijk from the club, but the Dutchman decided to move to Liverpool instead.  Johnny Evans was another target for Guardiola, but he believes Laporte provides longer term option.

Athletic Bilbao are notorious for not allowing their players leave for any amount under their release clause and Manchester City are ready to pay the French man’s release clause.

Laporte was left out of Bilbao’s squad for their last match against Eibar and reports in the Spanish media is claiming that he is set to move to England.

Laporte is still uncapped by France but played for their Under 21 side when he was younger. At 23, he has been playing for the Bilbao first team since 2012 having joined them in 2010.

Manchester City wanted to make him one of Pep Guardiola’s first signings when he was named their new manager, but Laporte turned down their advances as he had just returned from a long injury lay off.

Arsenal’s £25 million bid for West Brom’s Johny Evans has been left hanging as the Baggies look to squeeze more cash out of the Gunners.

Arsene Wenger is desperate to add the former Manchester United man to his team as he believes Evans has the experience the bring calm to his defence. The Northern Ireland man is also looking for a move away, although he prefers to join Manchester City for personal reasons.

Manchester City had a £30 million offer for the defender rejected last summer and the Baggies expected them to return with an improved offer this month. However, they have decided to move for Athletic Bilbao’s Aymeric Laporte even though he would cost them significantly higher at £57 million. Pep Guardiola wants a composed defender, however, he also wants a younger player that would easily be groomed.

West Brom have told Arsenal they would need to make their offer £27 million if they are serious about signing Evans.

The Gunners are currently busy trying to sign Pierre Emerick Aubameyang from Borussia Dortmund and they want to sign the Gabonese attacker before the start of the new week, they would then shift their focus back to signing Evans.

Chelsea’s move for former Manchester City man Edin Dzeko is proven too complicated than expected and the Blues have set a deadline to make the deal happen.

According to Sun Sport, the Blues have resumed talks with the Italians and they would be willing to walk away from negotiations if their latest effort doesn’t yield positive results by Monday.

Chelsea have been looking to sign Dzeko and his teammate Emerson Palmieri this month, while the move for Palmieri has been concluded, Dzeko’s is proving too hard.

The deal is reportedly held back by outrageous demands from the Bosnian, and Roma have also told the Blues that they have no problems keeping him at the Stadio Olimpico.

The Blues are desperate to sign a new attacker before the transfer window closes next week and they would now turn their attention to other targets.

Leicester City’s Islam Slimani, Burnley’s Ashley Barnes and Peter Crouch of Stoke City have attracted the interest of the defending champions this month.

However, Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud is Conte’s preferred alternative to Dzeko. The French man has been offered to Borussia Dortmund this month, but the Germans are unable to meet Arsenal’s demand.