According to reports from Marca, Manchester City have decided to activate the €50million release clause of Manchester United transfer target Aymeric Laporte.
The prodigious centre-back is widely viewed as one of the most exciting defensive prospects in world football having already registered nearly 150 senior appearances for Athletic Bilbao at just 21 years of age, holding down a resident spot at the heart of their backline since the start of the 2013/14 campaign.
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Premier League interest in the Frenchman, who has represented his country a whopping 60 times at youth level, is high ahead of the summer transfer window, with a number of its top clubs expected to search for added quality at centre-half.
That includes Manchester United, who are one of the clubs in the mix to sign Laporte. He’s been mooted as a Red Devils transfer target for some time, whilst reports in February suggested talks over a summer transfer to Old Trafford have already begun.
But according to Spanish publication Marca, Manchester City could be about to go one step further than their local rivals, having decided activate the 6 foot 2 defender’s €50million release clause.
Bilbao have made it clear they won’t agree a transfer for less, continuing a stance that saw Bayern Munich fork out €40million for Javi Martinez and Manchester United pay €36million for Ander Herrera in 2012 and 2014 respectively.