Howey Urges Manchester City To Opt Against Selling This Defender: Should Guardiola Let Him Go? | OneFootball

In a recent interview with Football FanCast, former Newcastle United defender Steve Howey urges Manchester City to opt against selling Aymeric Laporte this summer. Howey said,

“Who else have that got after Stones and Dias? I don’t really know. And that’s kind of leaving them a bit short unless he’s got a replacement.

“It wasn’t that long ago Laporte was the main man, and everyone was raving over him. For one reason or another, he lost his place in the team, Stones came in alongside Dias and that was it.”

Laporte’s Sporadic Role In English Football Last Season

Laporte lost his first-team privileges at the Etihad Stadium last season but still managed to be a useful presence in Pep Guardiola’s match-day squad. The Spaniard made 27 appearances for Man City in the previous campaign, netting two goals in the process across all fronts.

The 27-year-old performed well to average 0.8 tackles, 0.7 interceptions and 1.8 clearances per 90 minutes in the 2020-21 Premier League season. He was even excellent when distributing the ball from the back based on his pass success rate of 91.1% in the English top-flight (stats via whoscored).

Should Guardiola Let Laporte Go This Summer?

Laporte boasts excellent defensive awareness that helps him to clear his lines when the opposition are outnumbering him inside his half. He is a decent tackler of the ball and can use his strong 1.89m frame to dominate the opponent and secure the ball back for his team.

The Spanish sensation is proficient at keeping the ball moving without breaking a sweat and can also chip in by scoring the odd goal from indirect set-pieces. Laporte is an accomplished defender at the highest level, so Pep Guardiola should consider keeping hold of his services beyond this summer.

The one-time Spain international already knows what it takes to taste success with Man City, so it makes sense for both the player and the club to abide by the terms of his contract at the Etihad Stadium that runs out in the summer of 2025.

Guardiola needs to retain his best talent if he wants his team to push for the elusive UEFA Champions League in the coming seasons, so the Man City head coach should listen to Howey’s advice by keeping hold of Laporte for the time being.