Laporte open to City summer departure, says report

Manchester City center-back Aymeric Laporte is supposedly open to leaving the club this summer. The Spain international joined the team in January 2018 in a deal worth around $87 million. Despite being highly rated by most pundits, Laporte has not always been a regular starter under Pep Guardiola. Laporte hasn't been able to nail down […]

Manchester City center-back Aymeric Laporte is supposedly open to leaving the club this summer. The Spain international joined the team in January 2018 in a deal worth around $87 million. Despite being highly rated by most pundits, Laporte has not always been a regular starter under Pep Guardiola.

Laporte hasn’t been able to nail down starting spot

The 28-year-old central defender has managed just six Premier League starts during the current campaign.

Guardiola, while open to tinkering with his lineups, has chosen to go with other options as of late. Laporte has not started a top-flight match against a fellow ‘Big Six’ club in nearly a year.

The Spaniard last played a top Premier League club in April of 2022, when Liverpool came to town and grabbed a point in a 2-2 draw.

Injuries have also been a concern for the player. Laporte has missed a total of 63 games because of various illnesses and injuries since arriving to Manchester.

The center-back recently recovered from a minor illness and was on the bench for City’s 2-0 win against Newcastle on Saturday.

Report claims defensive replacement already found

Foot Mercato is now reporting that Laporte is possibly ready to leave City for another club.

The news outlet claims the player would be open to a fresh start and more time on the pitch. In recent months, Spanish rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid have been linked with the City defender.

Wherever he may end up, there will certainly be interest in the Spaniard this summer.

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▫️Remplaçant de luxe à Manchester City, Laporte est ouvert à un départ l'été prochain

▫️ Gvardiol ???????? est la priorité de Manchester City pour le remplacer. Comme déjà évoqué, des contacts existent avec son agent et Leipzig.https://t.co/bs1NUnorKJ

— Santi Aouna (@Santi_J_FM) March 4, 2023

According to the report, City have also apparently found Laporte’s potential replacement. Guardiola supposedly wants RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol.

The Croatian defender is considered one of, if not the top center-back prospect in Europe. Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester United have all been linked with the 21-year-old defender.

City previously mulled a $115 million offer for Gvardiol during the January transfer window. The deal, however, obviously never materialized. Nevertheless, a possible move away from Germany appears likely in the future.

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