Report: Manchester City hopeful that Laporte switch is imminent
Ahead of what should be a summer of influx for Manchester City, the club is poised to complete the signing of Athletic Bilbao defender Aymeric Laporte in the coming days, reports Marca's Juanma Velasco.
Laporte's long been thought to be a solution for City's recent defensive woes and will reportedly join on a contract through 2019.
Incoming manager Pep Guardiola has stressed the importance of bolstering the squad. Reports suggest the former Bayern Munich and Barcelona gaffer has a shopping list of eight signings to replenish an ageing squad on the heels of a disappointing fourth-place finish.
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Guardiola's hopes will be buoyed by his familiarity with Laporte's agents, former Barcelona youth standouts Ivan de la Pena and Carles Puyol. The two La Masia talents starred in an academy side that also featured Txiki Begiristain, City's current sporting director.
Laporte, 22, could very well have made a France Euro squad ravaged by injuries to central defenders were it not for a leg break suffered during an Under-21 match against Scotland in March.
That injury won't dissuade Guardiola and co. as they look to strengthen a backline that routinely started several players on the wrong side of 30, including oft-ailed Vincent Kompany, Martin Demichelis, and full-backs Gael Clichy, Pablo Zabaleta, and Bacary Sagna. Paired with erratic performances by Eliaquim Mangala and Nicolas Otamendi, the need for summer signings at the back is evident.
City has already secured the services of Borussia Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, and Laporte would become City's second signing of the summer.