Manchester City seeking sale of five-time Premier League winning defender amid Arsenal, Tottenham and Aston Villa interest

Manchester City are looking to sell Aymeric Laporte following the arrival of Josko Gvardiol from RB Leipzig.

The 21-year-old defender completed a £77.6 million move to the Etihad Stadium over the weekend, after weeks of negotiations between Manchester City and RB Leipzig for the Croatian international.

Gvardiol becomes the second-most expensive defender, behind Manchester United’s Harry Maguire, who moved to Old Trafford from Leicester City for £80 million in 2019.

The Croatian international is Manchester City’s second signing of the summer, and follows the arrival of fellow Croat Mateo Kovacic, after a £25 million move from Chelsea.

Gvardiol wasn’t part of the matchday squad for Manchester City’s loss to Arsenal on penalties in the FA Community Shield on Sunday, although the 21-year-old was present at Wembley Stadium.

Aymeric Laporte, who made just 20 starts for Manchester City across all competitions last season, was an unused substitute against the Gunners, despite the absence of Nathan Ake.

The five-time Premier League winner fell to the bottom of Pep Guardiola’s defence pecking order, and started only seven Premier League matches during the treble-winning campaign.

Arsenal, Tottenham and Aston Villa have all held an interest in signing Laporte this summer, with Manchester City now ready to cash in on the Spain defender, according to Simon Mullock.

City are looking to ‘offload’ the 29-year-old after the arrival of Gvardiol, and are even willing to sell the centre-back for £30 million, though would rather the player moves to a foreign club.

Jose Manuel Monje claims that Laporte has received an offer worth €20M net per season from the Saudi Pro League, but the defender is yet to respond to the offer.

Athletic Bilbao also remain interested in re-signing the Spaniard this summer, with Manchester City having paid £57 million to the La Liga club for Laporte in 2018.

A return to La Liga reportedly remains an option, but only at the end of the transfer window if City need to ‘desperately’ offload the defender.