In a recent report, the Daily Star has claimed that Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte is on Real Madrid’s radar. It is believed that Los Blancos are currently monitoring the French centre-back’s situation at the Etihad Stadium with the player struggling to get a regular run of games under Pep Guardiola’s stewardship this season (via The Daily Mail).
Laporte’s Lacklustre Season In English Football
Laporte has endured a frustrating campaign in the Premier League as he has fallen behind Ruben Dias and John Stones in the Man City pecking order. The 26-year-old has been involved in 14 matches for the Mancunian giants this term, netting one goal and picking up three yellow cards in all competitions.
The Agen-born sensation has struggled to be consistent with his defensive contributions after averaging 0.8 tackles, 0.8 interceptions and 2.4 clearances per game in the English top-flight and the UEFA Champions League group stages. However, he deserves credit for being tidy with his ball-distribution as evidenced by his pass success rate of 90.3% in both those competitions (stats via whoscored).
Laporte is currently under contract at the Etihad Stadium until the summer of 2025, so Guardiola will be under no pressure to cash in on him in the near future. Hence, Man City holds all the cards even if Los Blancos decide to launch a move for the talented centre-half at the end of this season.
What Does The French Defensive Ace Offer On The Pitch?
Laporte showcased last season that he possesses excellent defensive awareness to snuff out the danger quickly and earn possession back for his team. He can use his strong 1.89m frame to win some important aerial duels for his team and is not shy of clearing his lines when required.
The Frenchman is a decent ball-playing centre-back and fits Guardiola’s playing style quite well. Therefore, it makes no sense for the Man City boss to consider letting him go during the upcoming summer transfer window.
Can Man City Afford To Cut Laporte Loose In The Summer?
At the moment, Guardiola has got Ruben Dias and John Stones as his first-choice centre-backs while Nathan Ake, Eric Garcia and Laporte make up the rest of his defensive department. However, Garcia is expected to leave when his contract runs out next summer, so the Premier League leaders cannot afford to let Laporte depart as well because he is still an integral member of Guardiola’s squad. Man City should instead try to keep the player happy for the long-run as he has what it takes to strike up a dominant defensive partnership with Dias and Stones in the coming seasons.
