Manchester City’s preparations for the Pep Guardiola era are intensifying as they close in on a £39 million deal to sign Aymeric Laporte, the young French defender, from Athletic Bilbao.
City have informed Athletic they are willing to activate the €50 million (about £39 million) release clause in Laporte’s contract after Guardiola identified the 21-year-old as his top target, ahead of John Stones, in the search for a young, ball-playing central defender. Any deal, however, will rest on the approval of City’s medical staff as Laporte is in the early stages of his recovery from a broken leg and dislocated ankle.
He suffered the injuries while playing in an under-21 match for France against Scotland in March and is not expected to return to action until August. City are optimistic that Laporte will make a straightforward recovery from the injury, with no long-term effects, but particular interest will be taken in the medical examination before any deal is finalised.
Although Guardiola, the Bayern Munich coach, will not officially take over at the Etihad Stadium until June 23, he identified his principal targets in a meeting with Txiki Begiristain, the City’s director of football, in March. Since then, firm moves have been made to sign Laporte as well as Ilkay Gundogan, the Borussia Dortmund midfielder.
Other players on Guardiola’s wanted list include Marc-Andre ter Stegen, the Barcelona goalkeeper, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, the Arsenal midfielder. Laporte is expected to immediately challenge for a starting place in central defence, while Gundogan, 25, will cost about £30 million, as reported in The Times last month.