Manchester City keen to boost THREE defensive positions amid Aymeric Laporte and Kyle Walker exit links

Aymeric Laporte looks set to leave Manchester City in the summer as the club search for additions in the wider defensive areas, as per a new report.

Laporte has been heavily linked with a likely departure from the Etihad Stadium after falling down Pep Guardiola’s pecking order in defence this season. The Spain international joined Manchester City from Athletic Bilbao midway through the 2017/18 campaign and has been a focal asset to Guardiola throughout his tenure in England.

In an interview with Telegraph Sport prior to the Champions League final, the 29-year-old was coy on his club future as he expressed his frustrations over a lack of game time in City’s treble-winning campaign.

Over the last nine months, the form and consistency showed by the likes of John Stones, Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji have limited Laporte’s minutes and have raised doubts over his long-term future in Manchester.

Laporte has attracted interest from Barcelona, who are also eyeing swoops for Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan, as well as Aston Villa and Tottenham, as per recent reports.

RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol has been mentioned as a likely replacement should Laporte part ways with the Blues ahead of the new season, which seems like a strong possibility.

As per Sam Lee of The Athletic, Laporte appears certain to end his time at Manchester City this summer after five-and-a-half seasons at the club.

Eyebrows were raised when Laporte was spotted tearing up amidst Manchester City’s title-winning celebrations following their 1-0 triumph over Chelsea a few weeks ago.

The France-born defender has provided reliable cover at left-back, a worrying area of Guardiola’s squad since day one, at key moments since 2018, and his versatility has shone throughout his stay at City.

Elsewhere, Manchester City are also in the market for a new left-back after an overall disappointing debut season for Sergio Gomez, who joined the Blues from RSC Anderlecht last summer.

Guardiola has regularly deployed Ake at left back in the second half of the past campaign but with Joao Cancelo also highly likely to depart the club after his loan period in Germany, City will search for a new addition in the most vulnerable area of their squad.

Kyle Walker is also expected to leave Manchester City in the summer and the club are in the market for a new right-back despite the match-winning displays of John Stones and Manuel Akanji on that side of the backline in the treble run-in.