admin Aymeric Laporte is closing in on a move to Al Nassr as the Manchester City squad loses more experience but generates more money
Aymeric Laporte joined Al Nassr on Monday before making a £23.5m transfer to the Saudi Premier League club.
Laporte has been looking for a new challenge this summer after playing only a minor role in Manchester City’s hat-trick last season, although there has been surprisingly little interest in the Spanish defender. Pep Guardiola has included Josko Gvardiola on his defensive end this transfer window. The club paid £78m to sign the 21-year-old.
After not making the starting XI for the first four games of the season, Laporte decided to accept an offer from Al Nassra, who also have Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane in their squad, after accepting an offer for him.He should not be replaced at the Etihad as Gvardiol has already stepped in. Laporte is the second City player to leave this window and join the Saudi League, which is pumping big bucks into European clubs to establish themselves in the game. Riyad Mahrez has joined Al Ahli for £30million to complete his five-year tenure with the Blues.
Laporte’s fee will take City over £100m for sales this summer. On top of Mahrez, the club have also raised over £50m from the sale of homegrown talent including James Trafford, Shea Charles and Romeo Lavia.
Gvardiol has been the marquee signing at the Etihad this summer, while Mateo Kovacic has also come in for an initial £25m to take their spending to £103m. The club are still looking to bring in fresh reinforcements, although interest in West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta ended last week.
