Barcelona are increasingly unlikely to sign Man City centre-back Aymeric Laporte during the summer transfer window, according to Sport.
The La Liga outfit greatly admire what Laporte could bring to the Camp Nou but are not prioritising his arrival. Instead, they believe there are younger options available over the off-season who also have a higher ceiling to their potential.
Barcelona are aware that any potential signings must be able to have long-term success in Catalunya but also re-sale value. They are currently listening to offers for Clement Lenglet just three years after paying Sevilla £32m for the defender.
Ronald Koeman also hopes to offload Samuel Umtiti and only should the Frenchman and Lenglet leave will Barcelona be able to afford a first-choice centre-half signing. Added with the high cost that Man City would demand to sell Laporte, the operation is growing cold.
Man City hugely value what Laporte can offer under Pep Guardiola and would only sell for a vast sum. They are also not currently considering Barcelona’s curiosity and have little interest in a potential swap deal.
There was a chance Barcelona would offer Sergi Roberto plus cash to sign Laporte, but the offer would be unsuccessful. However, Man City remain a potential destination for Roberto, as Guardiola’s side are the best-placed to sign the 29-year-old if he leaves the Camp Nou.
Man City are under no pressure to sell Laporte, as he has four years remaining on a £120,000-per-week contract. But Fabrizio Romano has claimed the 27-year-old was among the players offered to Tottenham Hotspur in part-exchange for Harry Kane.
Would Man City regret selling Laporte to Barcelona?
John Stones and Ruben Dias emerging as the first-choice pairing at Man City meant Guardiola fielded Laporte far less often last season. The Spaniard only started 14 of his 16 Premier League appearances and three of four in the Champions League.
Man City may feel Guardiola can make do without Laporte if Barcelona do present a sizable offer this summer, then. But selling the former France youth international could leave the Citizens boss weaker than he ended last term.
Laporte offers Guardiola and Man City that rare aspect of being a left-footed centre-half who plays at a high standard. Eric Garcia, now at Barcelona, lauded that part of his former teammates’ game during his time at the Etihad Stadium.
“He is a great player, he was seen in his [Spain] debut and I am very happy for him,” Garcia said, via Sport. “He has a spectacular ball exit, a left-[foot] that I have seen in few centres and a winning attitude that is very important in the world of football.”
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