Manchester City to make £25 million summer move for Laporte
Posted Saturday, April 18, 2015 by squawka.com
Manchester City have identified their key defensive target for a summer of rebuilding in the form of Aymeric Laporte, as per Goal.com.
The club's dismal defence of their Premier League crown has seen many people predict that the Citizens are set for a summer overhaul, as per Goal, and they further claim that City officials have scouted the France Under-21 international several times this season.
The 20-year-old signed a new contract with Athletic Bilbao last June with a release clause estimated to be around £30 million, but Goal claims that City are confident of securing his services for around £25 million.
Laporte is likely to be a long term solution to City's current problems with an ageing squad. It is expected that if he does join City in the summer he will play next season primarily as back up for City's current centre-backs.
City have recently given Martin Demichelis a new one-year deal and are likely to stick with captain Vincent Kompany and Eliaquim Mangala for another season, despite both of them struggling this term.
Laporte, despite being 20-years-old has played 2329 minutes in La Liga this season - more than any City centre-back has done in the Premier League.
He also has a vastly superior Squawka defensive score of 14.52 this season - although we must be wary of the differences in the quality of opposition between La Liga and the Premier League.
He still has an impressive 1.82 tackles won per 90 and - demonstrating a good ability to read the game- has 3.44 interceptions per 90 metrics which is better than his City counterparts this season.
Laporte has won 59% of his duels on average in La Liga this season.
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