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Manchester City: Transfer News and Rumour Roundup 2

By Stephen Little

ESSEN, GERMANY - JANUARY 19: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrates after scoring his team's 1st goal ofÊBorussia Dortmund with Ilkay Guendogan during the friendly match between Borussia Dortmund v Sparta Prague on January 19, 2016 in Essen, Germany. (Photo by Alexandre Simoes/Borussia Dortmund/Getty Images)
ESSEN, GERMANY - JANUARY 19: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrates after scoring his team's 1st goal ofÊBorussia Dortmund with Ilkay Guendogan during the friendly match between Borussia Dortmund v Sparta Prague on January 19, 2016 in Essen, Germany. (Photo by Alexandre Simoes/Borussia Dortmund/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
(Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images) /

The Edging Closer

Aymeric Laporte, Atletico Bilbao, 22, Defender

You know what? I just feel this is going to be Kevin De Bruyne all over again. One minute it’s on, the next it’s off. The good folks at Blue Moon Rising reported it was imminent yesterday, yet the more recent news is that he has another, apparently final, hearing with the top brass at Atletico to potentially hammer out a deal.

Ultimately, like with De Bruyne, I feel this one is far too close for things to not land City’s way in the end. Reports earlier stated City had already met his release clause, but now there’s murmurings that hasn’t happened. My gut tells me this isn’t anything to worry about, a £40 million investment may be significant but it’s far from prohibitive and he appears to be the player Pep wants. With anywhere in the region of £200 million to play with, of which Gundogan only took up 10%, plenty remains to convince Bilbao they don’t need their star central defender as much as they thought they did.

It’s obvious by now that this is one player City have unwavering interest in. Recent reports indicate a potential pay packet for the star of around £5.8m per year, a three times increase in what Bilbao currently pay him and worlds ahead of what they could muster up after a whip around.

The good news for City is, as reported by El Correo, that due to Laporte’s current injury, he’s missing the Euros entirely and is able and indeed likely to sign while they go on. El Correo suggests next week, but take that with a grain of salt. It could take months, but if Pep wants him then Pep will have him and he’s worth the wait.

Slotting in at the back, Laporte would be the linchpin of the defence and ultimate successor to Vincent Kompany. He’s got the advantage of being young and impressionable so will be crafted too by Guardiola to enhance his already above average defensive and passing statistics. Oh and £39 million is a pretty good price, given United shelled out £30 million to Villareal for defender Eric Bailly this week who isn’t on the level Laporte would be.

In conlusion – patience. It may not happen this week or this month, but, if Manchester City want it to happen, it will.

Next: The Out of Nowhere

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