Aymeric Laporte has made it clear to Manchester City that he wants to move to La Liga this summer, with Barcelona and Real Madrid registering their interest.
Laporte, who switched allegiances from France to Spain ahead of Euro 2020, has told his representatives that he would like to leave Manchester having lost his place in the City team to Ruben Dias and John Stones. 90min understands that Spain is the only destination he is interested in leaving for.
Both Barcelona and Real Madrid have asked English champions City to be kept informed of his situation, with both clubs in the market for a new defender. Laporte tops both teams' list of options in that department, though money is understandably tight.
Real have just parted company with Sergio Ramos, and Raphael Varane is in process of moving to Manchester United, leaving them light in that department. The deals will mean they have lost their two most experienced centre halves in the space of a few weeks, with only new signing David Alaba coming in as a replacement so far.
Barcelona hope to move on the likes of Clement Lenglet and Samuel Umtiti themselves before the end of the transfer window, though they are having difficulty shifting players and meeting their wage cap as it stands. Laporte’s former team-mate Eric Garcia has already agreed a deal with Barca ahead of the new season.
Laporte's path to regaining his position as an automatic starter for City seems a long way off, with Dias having won the FWA Footballer of the Year last season and Stones set to earn himself a bumper new deal following months of impressive performances.
Laporte's desire to leave has been made clear to City’s hierarchy. The club are ready to let the 27-year-old move on, but only if a suitable offer arrives.
City sources have confirmed to 90min that Laporte is ready to leave, saying: “The player has made it clear he feels a move this summer would benefit all parties, and there is a chance this happens with major interest in him. But City are not forcing him out and would be happy for him to stay at the club if that is how the situation plays out.”
Source : 90min