Report: Manchester City to trigger Aymeric Laporte's €65M buyout clause

Manchester City is expected to activate the €65-million release clause in Aymeric Laporte’s contract before the end of the January transfer window, reports The Telegraph’s James Ducker.

City renewed interest in the Athletic Club centre-back this month following set-backs in their search for defensive reinforcements. Pep Guardiola considered Virgil van Dijk one of his “primary” targets before losing the Dutchman to Liverpool, according to Ducker. City also cooled talks with West Brom over 31-year-old defender Jonny Evans after failing with a bid in August.

Laporte registered on City’s radar last summer despite labouring with a broken leg and dislocated ankle. His distribution skills and ability to carry the ball out from the back apparently made the 23-year-old an attractive option to the pass-obsessed Guardiola.

Laporte ultimately decided to sign a new contract with Athletic, which triggered an increase in his release clause from €50 million to the current €65 million.

City is reportedly in a rush to finalise a deal in order to avoid yet another hike, with Laporte’s clause set to jump another €5 million by the start of the 2018-19 campaign.

Guardiola’s side has looked shaky at the back since its taste of mortality against Liverpool, conceding six goals over that three-match stretch.

Laporte, meanwhile, has started in 30 matches across all competitions since recovering from injury.

He would give John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi some competition, while relieving the oft-bandaged Vincent Kompany from the strains of weekly football.