Barcelona and Real Madrid are reportedly monitoring the situation of 28-year-old Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte.
According to a report by Spanish outlet SPORT, Aymeric Laporte faces an uncertain future at Manchester City. The Premier League champions are keen on signing Josko Gvardiol from RB Leipzig. And Barcelona and Real Madrid are tracking the situation of the 28-year-old at the Etihad.
Aymeric Laporte has endured a topsy-turvy ride since joining Manchester City from Athletic Club in January 2018. While he has been one of the best defenders in the Premier League, he has not always been the undisputed first-choice centre-back for the Citizens. And the Spanish international has been in and out of the team this season.
The 28-year-old has managed only 1,219 minutes of game time across 15 appearances across all competitions. In addition, with Manchester City interested in Josko Gvardiol, the four-time Premier League winner faces an uncertain future at the Etihad. Such a situation has captured the attention of Barcelona and Real Madrid.
The former Athletic Club defender has been on Barcelona’s radar since his days at San Mames. And the Catalan giants remain keen on signing the 28-year-old Spanish international. That is because Xavi Hernandez will prioritise signing a left-footed centre-back in the summer. And the four-time Premier League winner might be the best available option in the market.
On the other hand, Real Madrid might have to reluctantly dip into the market for a centre-back. That is because Nacho faces an uncertain future at the Santiago Bernabeu. And with talks over a new contract not progressing much, Real Madrid will look for a central defender. Several centre-backs, including Josko Gvardiol, have thus emerged on Los Blancos’ radar.
But with Manchester City also keenly pursuing the Croatian international, Laporte is a viable alternative. So Barcelona and Real Madrid might spar for the 28-year-old Spanish international. But with his contract running until June 30, 2025, Manchester City will likely demand a premium for his services.
That is where Barcelona might have to abandon chasing the four-time Premier League winner. So Real Madrid might ideally be in the pole position to sign the Manchester City defender. Nonetheless, it will be interesting to see if Barcelona can rise as a contender to secure his services.
