Manchester City are close to signing Athletic Bilbao defender Aymeric Laporte – according to reports.
Pep Guardiola has publicly claimed that he wants to sign a new defender and it seems that the City hierarchy are eager to bring in the French U-21 defender by the end of the month.
Manchester City were chasing Laporte during the summer and were close to signing the defender but the Frenchman chose to sign a new deal and stay back at Bilbao
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As per ESPN, Manchester City have once again renewed their interest in the defender and have moved close to signing him.
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With Vincent Kompany missing a lot of games due to injury Pep Guardiola wants Laporte to be a backup to John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi.
Laporte, 23, has a buyout clause worth €65 million (£57m) meaning that if Manchester City manage to secure the transfer then the U-21 International will become the most expensive player in the Citizens’ roster surpassing the £55m Kevin De Bruyne.
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