In a recent report, Sport claimed that Barcelona are eyeing a January move for Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte. It has been mentioned that the Catalan outfit are hoping to recruit the Spanish centre-back to replace Gerard Pique, who announced his retirement recently.
Laporte’s Injury-Plagued Season At The Etihad Stadium
The 28-year-old has missed a lot of games this season due to a knee injury. He has endured a frustrating time at the Etihad Stadium of late but there is no denying his quality which is why he remains an important member of Pep Guardiola’s squad.
Laporte has made just six appearances for the Mancunian outfit this season, picking up one assist across all competitions. The 28-year-old is averaging 1.0 clearances per game in Premier League football. He has even distributed possession well from the back after making 90.6% of his attempted passes in the English first division (stats via whoscored).
Laporte is under contract at the Manchester club until the summer of 2025. Therefore, Barca will have to make a sizable offer if they are serious about recruiting him this January.
Is Laporte A Good Option For Barcelona Head Coach Xavi?
Laporte is a solid tackler of the ball and can read the danger well to secure the ball back for his side on the defensive third of the pitch. He usually puts his foot through the ball when needed and is even proficient at playing his way out from the back. The Spaniard can use his strong 1.89m frame to dominate the opposition attackers in the air and can be an aerial threat from indirect set-pieces. He is primarily a central defender but can also fill in as a left-back if asked to do so.
Someone of Laporte’s skillset and quality will no doubt be a welcome addition to Xavi‘s match-day squad this winter. We can expect the Agen-born talent to enhance the quality of Barcelona‘s backline. At 28, he is currently playing in his prime and could make an instant impact for Barca if they can get him on board soon.
Furthermore, Laporte is good enough to serve as an ideal replacement for Gerard Pique at the Nou Camp. He has what it takes to help the Catalan club get back to challenging for major trophies once again in the coming seasons. All in all, Laporte will be an excellent option for Xavi to pursue when the transfer window commences at the start of next year.
