According to The Sun, Barcelona are eyeing a summer swoop for Aymeric Laporte. The defender has emerged as the latest Manchester City player to have been identified as a top target by Xavi, who is keen on reuniting him with Eric Garcia at Camp Nou. Man City, though, will be keen on recouping the £58 million they had spent on Laporte three and a half years ago.
Aymeric Laporte’s Turnaround At Manchester City
Aymeric Laporte endured a difficult 2020/21 campaign when Manchester City’s poor start to the season saw him lose his place in the squad to John Stones. The defender could only muster 16 league appearances, although injuries and a COVID infection earlier in the campaign did play a part.
However, this time around, it appears Laporte has regained his place in the team. He has already notched up 17 league appearances, moving ahead of Stones in the pecking order and building a solid defensive partnership with Ruben Dias which has helped the club remain at the top of the Premier League standings.
Laporte’s technical prowess and ability to read the game have combined well with the combative Dias, whose physical prowess and commitment makes him one of the best defenders in the league. The duo makes a strong case for being one of the best defensive combinations in Europe at the moment, as evidenced by the fact that Man City have only conceded 13 goals this term.
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Should Guardiola Sanction His Exit?
After falling out of favour last season, Aymeric Laporte has indeed enjoyed a brilliant turnaround. The defender has been able to showcase his true potential this season, which has played a critical role behind Manchester City’s success so far.
With that in mind, it might not be a wise move from the Citizens to offload Laporte anytime soon. At the age of 27, he is currently at the peak of his powers and it could be a difficult job for the club to find a proper replacement, especially given how they have failed with the acquisition of Nathan Ake.
Hence, Manchester City simply cannot afford to sell Laporte and must do everything they can to ensure the defender’s prolonged stay at the Etihad. Fortunately for the club, the player does have a contract until 2025 and given Barcelona’s financial woes, it appears unlikely that the Catalans will be able to fund a move for the Spanish international next summer.
