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Aymeric Laporte 'says goodbyes ahead of Manchester City move'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 28 January 2018

Laporte 'says goodbyes ahead of City move'

Athletic Bilbao defender Aymeric Laporte reportedly bids farewell to his teammates ahead of his proposed £57m move to Premier League leaders Manchester City.

Athletic Bilbao defender Aymeric Laporte has reportedly said his goodbyes to his teammates ahead of his proposed move to Manchester City.

Laporte was left out of his side's La Liga clash with Eibar on Friday night as he edges towards a £57m switch to the Premier League leaders, a deal which would make him the second most-expensive defender in history behind Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk.

The Mirror reports that the 23-year-old bid farewell to his teammates in Bilbao at the weekend, receiving a signed shirt upon his exit.

Laporte is now expected to travel to England to finalise personal terms with Man City, who are hopeful of completing the deal within the next 24 hours.

The France Under-21 international's arrival would leave Man City with a possible defensive quartet signed for more than £200m alongside Kyle Walker, Bernard Mendy and John Stones.

Laporte joined Athletic Bilbao's youth academy in 2010 and has gone on to make 222 senior appearances for the club across all competitions.