Aymeric Laporte signs new Athletic Bilbao deal after Manchester City transfer interest
French defender has signed new contract with Spanish club until 2020 and has £52million release clause rising to £56m
Manchester City target Aymeric Laporte has signed a new contract with Athletic Bilbao.
The highly-rated 22-year-old defender was heavily linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium, with new boss, Pep Guadiola thought to be a massive fan.
However, it appears there will be no this summer, with Laporte putting pen-to-paper a new deal until 2020.
Atheltic confirmed the news via their official Twitter account — adding that the player’s release clause is now £65million, rising up to £70m from 2018.
Guardiola has put signing a new central defender at the top of his priority list as he plans to take over at City, following a three-year spell with Bayern Munich.
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Skipper Vincent Kompany is no longer as colossal as he once was, with injuries appearing to take their toll.
And, despite the likes of Martin Demichelis and Nicolas Otamendi impressing in parts, neither have proved themselves as a long-term solution.
Laporte is widely viewed as one of the best central defensive prospects in world football — and his renewal will certainly come as a blow to Guardiola’s plans.
The youngster has represented France at Under-17, Under-18, Under-19 and Under-21 level.
However, he is yet to win a senior cap, and is still free to appear for Spain.
Laporte was a strong candidate to be called up to France’s 23-man Euro 2016 but suffered a sickening ankle injury during an Under-21 man in March.