Manchester City likely to tip Man United and Barcelona in signing Spanish defender
Apr 12, 2016 at 1:01 PM
The biggest story of the summer in the English Premier League is the appointment of Pep Guardiola at the Etihad franchise next season.
He Spanish maestro has already been announced as the successor of Pellegrini at Manchester City and he is set to make a number of changes to the squad as he will hope to have a squad of his choice on his first adventure in England.
A number of players are linked with a potential move to the Etihad this summer and it is understood that the incoming manager has already outlined a list of targets he wants at the club at the start of the next season.
And one of the top names on the list is Athletic Bilbao defender Aymeric Laporte.
Nicolas Otmanedi and Mangal have both not been able to prove themselves in the top flight of English football and with club skipper Vincent Kompany missing most of this season through injury, Guardiola has made a top class central defender a top priority for next season.
And it is now understood that Laporte has agreed in principle a deal worth £35million for a move this summer.
The director of football at City, Txiki Begiristain is already on his way to meet the player and if a deal is agreed, the French international will become the first signing of the Guardiola era at City.
The likes of Barcelona and Manchester United are also scouting the 21-year old but a recent injury that he sustained on duty with the France U-21 national team has seen them drop their interests in the player.
Barcelona are now looking at PSG’s Marquinhos while Manchester United are set to battle it out for Mats Hummels of Borussia Dortmund leaving City as the front-runners for the 21-year old Laporte.
It is also reported that this deal will not affect City and Guardiola’s interest in England international John Stones.
Stones who is also a transfer target for clubs like Chelsea and Real Madrid is also high on the wish list at the Etihad but it will be interesting to see if Guardiola makes the move for the Everton defender if a deal with Laporte is agreed.
Do you think Aymeric Laporte will do well in the EPL?