Manchester City ‘agree club-record £57million fee to sign Aymeric Laporte from Athletic Bilbao’
Central defender was left out of Basque side's squad for 1-1 draw with Eibar and is expected at Etihad for medical soon
MANCHESTER CITY have agreed a club-record £57million fee with Athletic Bilbao to sign Aymeric Laporte according to reports.
The Basque side left the uncapped central defender out of their squad for the 1-1 draw with Eibar last night, sparking rumours a transfer was on the verge of completion.
And report the Premier League leaders have met Laporte's buy-out clause, and he will travel to Manchester early soon for a medical.
It has been a frustrating January transfer window for Pep Guardiola with City missing out on two of their main targets.
Virgil van Dijk joined Liverpool in world record fee for a defender of £75m, while rivals Manchester United beat them to the signing of Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal.
However, it looks likely to end on a positive note with the expected signing of long-term target Laporte.
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The deal has been drawn out as Athletic never allow players to leave for anything under their buy-out clause, but City are now close to getting the deal over the line.
Earlier in the day, Guardiola confirmed their was interest, but gave little away when discussing how close the switch was to happening.
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He had said: “He’s a player for Bilbao. It’s the same as other players in the clubs, I didn’t speak about previous players.
"If it happens, it happens. If not, then it doesn’t.”