Aymeric Laporte 'has concrete possibility of leaving Manchester City'

Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte reportedly has a 'concrete possibility' of leaving the club this summer.

The 28-year-old's long-term future at the Etihad Stadium has been called into question having been forced to settle for a squad-rotation role under Pep Guardiola this season.

Laporte missed the first few months of the season due to injury, but he has since been reduced to only 15 appearances across all competitions, watching on as an unused substitute in 10 games while starting just six times in the Premier League.

The plethora of defensive options at Guardiola's disposal has led to the Catalan boss consistently rotating his backline this term, with Ruben Dias, John Stones, Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake also competing for regular starts.

Laporte has been an influential member of Man City's squad since joining the club from Athletic Bilbao for £57m in January 2018, making 170 appearances in all tournaments and winning a total of eight trophies including four Premier League titles.

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However, the Spain international is allegedly open to leaving the club in search of regular first-team football, with the Citizens not prepared to stand in his way should he request to seek pastures new.

According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, there is a 'concrete possibility' that Laporte will leave the Etihad in this summer's transfer window.

Romano adds that Barcelona are keeping tabs on Laporte's situation, but the La Liga leaders are one of 'many' clubs who are considering a summer swoop for the defender.

Barca may struggle lure the former Bilbao man to Camp Nou, though, as La Liga president Javier Tebas recently confirmed that they cannot sign players until they raise £177m amid their financial issues.

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Real Madrid have also been credited with an interest in Laporte, and they could target the defender as a replacement for Nacho Fernandez, 33, who is out of contract at the end of the season.

A potential move to Serie A has also been mooted for Laporte, with Calciomercato claiming that Juventus and Roma have been offered the chance to sign the Spaniard in the summer.

Laporte is said to be valued by Man City at around €40m (£35.6m), but the report adds that their valuation could drop to 'meet the market needs' of the two Italian giants.

The potential sale of Laporte this summer could see the Citizens step up their pursuit of RB Leipzig star Josko Gvardiol, who is believed to be high on Guardiola's list of targets ahead of the 2023-24 campaign.

Gvardiol, who is also wanted by the likes of Liverpool and Chelsea, has recently expressed his desire to play in the Premier League, although Leipzig boss Marco Rose has ruled out the defender leaving this summer.