Athletic Club Bilbao have identified Manchester City’s Aymeric Laporte as a target, according to claims from Spain.
The centre-back featured 24 times last season and will now drop further down the pecking order after Joško Gvardiol’s arrival at the Etihad last week.
Onda Vasca journalist José Manuel Monje, relayed by Estadio Deportivo, states the La Liga side see the Manchester City player as a ‘perfect replacement’ for Iñigo Martínez.
A potential deal for the Basque club remains complicated because the 29-year-old has a ‘succulent offer’ on the table from Saudi Arabia. The name of the club isn’t mentioned.
Another journalist, Rubén Uría, has provided additional updates on his Twitch channel and ED have relayed it. He says an unnamed Saudi Arabian club is trying to seduce Laporte with a salary of €20m per year.
Uría adds the ‘only option’ for the La Liga side to sign the Spain international would be if he’s still at Manchester City towards the end of the window.
Laporte’s deal lasts until 2025 and the report adds Pep Guardiola’s side are ‘not going to give away’ the player easily. It’s claimed they are asking for €30-35m to sanction his sale.
