Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte is reportedly ‘unhappy’ with his amount of game time this season amid rumours that the Spanish international could leave the Premier League side.
According to the Athletic, the former Athletic Bilbao superstar is not pleased with how little he has played this season, with Laporte making just 13 appearances in all competitions this campaign as Pep Guardiola has preferred summer signing Manuel Akanji and John Stones to partner Ruben Dias in central defence.
With City having five centre-backs in total on their books, there’s a strong chance that one will leave in the summer, and given that Laporte has been eyed by FC Barcelona according to El Chiringuito journalist Jose Alvarez, there’s every chance that the 28-year-old could be on the move.
Indeed, Laporte has been linked with a move away from City on and off again for the good part of two years, and with the defender now unhappy with his lack of playing time, a summer transfer could make a lot of sense for all parties, especially for Guardiola’s side.
As we know, the Manchester side have been linked with signing a young centre-back this year for quite some time. And if a player like Laporte was to leave, City will be free to go into the market and to sign a replacement that fits their long-term plans.
Moreover, for Laporte, the opportunity to leave City for a top side where he will be a starting defender will be a tantalising option for the centre-back, where a move to a Barcelona or a similar club will be a fantastic transfer for the team and the player.
Laporte will be wise to leave City at the end of this season
City’s squad structure is an ever-evolving beast that has seen Guardiola dominate the Premier League and soon the European scene, and for Laporte, the current and next stage of the team is seemingly not meant for the French-born defender, who will be wise to leave in the summer.
With Laporte in his prime, interest will no doubt be high for the Spanish international, and with City seemingly already making plans to sign a replacement, it makes too much sense for the defender to leave Manchester at the end of this season.
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