Aymeric Laporte eyes Manchester City exit having held talks with potential next club | OneFootball

Manchester City centre-back Aymeric Laporte is eyeing an exit from the Etihad Stadium this summer, and has reportedly held talks with a potential new club.

The Spain international defender has largely been a rotation option this season under Pep Guardiola, registering just 15 appearances across all competitions and accumulating a total of 1,219 minutes.

The likes of Manuel Akanji and Ruben Dias have held down the main central defensive positions for the most part of the campaign, while Nathan Ake has solidified a role as the club’s new left-back following the exit of Joao Cancelo.

Subsequently, it now appears as though Aymeric Laporte could actively go in search of a new club this summer, in an attempt to hold down a permanent spot as a central defender in the starting XI of a top European side.

Now, according to the information of Mundo Deportivo’s Fernando Polo, Aymeric Laporte now wants to leave Manchester City and join La Liga giants FC Barcelona this summer, with ‘initial contacts’ having already taken place between the club and player’s camp.

It is stated that Camp Nou boss Xavi likes the player, and Barcelona themselves are also interested in Aymeric Laporte, as long as Manchester City agree to let him leave for a ‘reasonable amount’ and whether financial fair play allows them to make a move.

As for Manchester City and how that could affect their transfer plans for the upcoming summer transfer window, the expectation is that Etihad Stadium transfer chiefs would go in search of a replacement.

One name that is understood to have strong admirers within the club is RB Leipzig and Croatia star Josko Gvardiol – who scored against Manchester City in the Champions League last-16 first-leg last month.

Following an exceptional campaign so far and an impressive World Cup with his country in Qatar, the Bundesliga side are expected to command a transfer fee in excess of £80 million, but will certainly not be short of suitors regardless of the asking price.