Guardiola demotion makes Man City star ‘open’ to summer transfer as top suitors sense he’s ‘not satisfied’

Manchester City could have to listen to offers for Aymeric Laporte in the summer since the defender is “not satisfied” at the club, according to a report.

Laporte has fallen down Pep Guardiola’s pecking order when choosing Man City’s backline this season. Indeed, he has only started six Premier League matches. Therefore, he is now “open” to leaving the club in the summer, according to AS.

Barcelona have identified Laporte as a potential target if he can reduce his wages. They would be taking him back to La Liga after his previous spell with Athletic Club in Bilbao – and the Spain international wouldn’t be against playing in that league again.

Laporte does have other suitors, though, who aren’t named in the report. All that is clear is that he wants to move somewhere to become more prominent again.

To sanction his exit, Man City might accept a bid worth half of the €65million they paid for him in January 2018. In other words, their asking price could be in the region of £29m.

Last season’s Premier League champions only have Laporte under contract for another two seasons. Yet they seem willing to cash in on the 28-year-old at the end of the season.

After all, Guardiola has preferred to use Ruben Dias, Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake and John Stones this season. Admittedly, Laporte missed the start of the campaign through injury, but he has been an unused substitute for Man City’s last four Premier League games in a row prior to Saturday’s clash with Leicester.

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Laporte loses former importance to Man City

Across his whole career with Man City, Laporte has racked up 171 appearances in all competitions. At his peak, he was one of Guardiola’s most dependable performers.

But something has changed in recent months. At an age where he should be in the prime of his career, Laporte will want to send a reminder of what he is capable of – and that may well have to be with another club.

Interestingly, other sources have tipped him for a transfer to another Premier League club. The update from AS doesn’t specifically suggest whether there is a concrete chance of that happening or not.

Barcelona seem to be the ones to watch for this transfer, but they would have to make space on their wage bill to have a realistic chance of getting a deal for Laporte over the line.

If they were to find a way, they could link him up with former teammates Eric Garcia and Ferran Torres. Furthermore, Xavi’s side have been looking at taking Ilkay Gundogan on a free transfer when his contract at the Etihad Stadium expires in the summer.

In other news, Man City have been linked with a promising Chelsea defender who is also on Liverpool’s radar.