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.
