Barcelona are reportedly still interested in signing Aymeric Laporte, who is keen on leaving Manchester City in the ongoing transfer window.
According to reputed Spanish journalist Gerard Romero, as relayed by Barca Centre, Barcelona are still hot on the trails on Aymeric Laporte. The 27-year-old Spanish international is eager to move away from Manchester City in the summer transfer window in search of regular game-time.
Aymeric Laporte joined Manchester City from Athletic Bilbao in January 2018 and has continued to progress leaps and bounds at the Etihad. However, 2020/21 was a difficult season for the player, who fell behind an inspired John Stones in the pecking order for defenders, as the Citizens won the Premier League and Carabao Cup double.
To date, Laporte has turned out 111 times for Manchester City, chipping in with eight goals and three assists. However, after struggling to feature week in week out last term, Laporte is eager to make his way out of the English club this summer, with Barcelona among his prospective suitors in the ongoing window.
The interest from Barcelona makes a world of sense despite the arrival of Eric Garcia earlier in the summer. Indeed, with Samuel Umtiti and Clement Lenglet failing to make an impression of late, the French duo has been deemed surplus to requirements at Camp Nou, meaning Barcelona can do well to land a left-footed centre-back this summer.
Three potential destinations for Aymeric Laporte | THT Opinions
To that end, Laporte is a viable target, with the player himself keen on joining the Catalan giants. Such a scenario works in favour of the Blaugrana, who as per the reputed Gerard Romero (h/t Barca Centre) still have the Spanish international well within their sights.
However, Romero also adds that signing the 27-year-old, who recently broke into the Spanish national side after changing allegiances from France, will be far from a straightforward procedure. Barcelona first need to offload multiple players before they can even think about meeting Laporte’s valuation.
While a price tag has not been mentioned, Manchester City are expected to charge a premium for the player. What now remains to be seen is Barcelona can move enough pieces to make room while also raising funds to land Laporte or if he ends up staying put at the Etihad beyond the summer transfer window.
