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Man City have apparently accepted a bid for defender Aymeric Laporte from Saudi Pro League team Al-Nassr.
The 29-year-old has spent the previous five and a half years at the Etihad Stadium, where he has made 180 appearances across all competitions and won 12 trophies, including five Premier League crowns and the Champions League.
Last season, Laporte was a member of Pep Guardiola’s treble-winning squad, but he only appeared in 20 events and dropped behind Ruben Dias, John Stones, Manuel Akanji, and Nathan Ake in the pecking order.
The Spain international is one of three left-footed central defenders at Man City, alongside Ake and big-money summer signing Josko Gvardiol, and has been linked with a move away from the Etihad.
A number of European clubs have been linked with Laporte, including Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, who have identified the defender as a possible summer replacement for the injured Jurrien Timber.
Laporte is in links with with Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, Juventus, and Roma. The midfielder still has two years left on his contract with Manchester City.
Man City to let go Laporte?
Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr has increased their interest in the defender and has had an offer accepted by the Citizens.
The size of Al-Nassr’s bid is unknown. However, Man City is likely to value the former Athletic Bilbao player at roughly £30 million.
Laporte is open to move to the Middle East and joining Al-Nassr. Al Nassr FC is currently under the capitancy of the five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo.
Al-Nassr is one of four Saudi Arabian clubs under the country’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). They have made numerous important additions this summer.
Sadio Mane has joined Al-Nassr from Bayern Munich. Also, midfielders Marcelo Brozovic and Seko Fofana from Inter Milan and Lens joined Ronaldo. Along with others, left-back Alex Telles from Manchester United also joined the Saudi Side.
Al-Nassr, under the leadership of Luis Castro, is still hunting for new big-name recruits, and Laporte is one of them.
Laporte came on as a second-half substitute in Man City’s 3-0 Premier League triumph over Burnley last Friday and has since traveled to Athens as part of a 22-man squad for Wednesday’s UEFA Super Cup match against Sevilla.
Man City might use some of the proceeds from Laporte’s likely sale to sign top targets Lucas Paqueta and Jeremy Doku from West Ham United and Rennes, respectively.
