FC Barcelona are reportedly plotting a loan move for Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte.
According to Sport, the Spanish international wants to move to the UEFA Champions League giants this summer. However, as reported by the Daily Mail, Pep Guardiola will only allow Laporte to leave City if an offer of £60m is made.
The defender lost his place in the City first-team last season after Ruben Dias and John Stones formed a formidable partnership in the defence. The duo were key to the Manchester side winning their fifth Premier League title.
Indeed, Laporte is eager to depart for first-team football elsewhere in Europe, with Juventus and Real Madrid both also keen on the 27-year-old defender. However, as per Sport, Barcelona is the centre-back’s preference.
As we know, the thought of the Catalan side making a £60m offer for Laporte this summer is extremely unlikely.
Barcelona’s financial problems have been widely documented throughout the transfer window, with every signing the club have made so far being for free.
Yet that hasn’t stopped the club from targeting players who would cost a fee. This could explain why Barcelona are now eyeing a loan move for Laporte. The defender scored in last weekend’s 5-0 win against Norwich City.
With just over a week of the window left to go, Barcelona will have to draw up a deal fast if they are to secure the loan signing of Laporte, who will likely return to the bench once Stones and Dias are back to full fitness.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
