Real Madrid in negotiations to hijack Saudi Arabia switch for out-of-favour Manchester City star

Real Madrid have made contact with Aymeric Laporte’s camp and could look to hijack Al-Nassr’s approach for the Manchester City defender, as per reports.

The 29-year-old has fallen down the pecking order in defence at the Etihad Stadium and is expected to seal a desired move away for regular first-team football before the transfer window shuts on September 1.

Laporte joined Manchester City midway through the 2017/18 campaign and has since been a key part of Pep Guardiola’s squad, making 180 outings for the European champions during a five-and-a-half year spell at the club.

However, the richness of options at Guardiola’s disposal in defence and the recent arrival of Josko Gvardiol from RB Leizpig is expected to see Laporte find another club.

A host of clubs across Europe are believed to have registered interest in the Spain international, who has two years remaining on his current Manchester City contract.

Manchester City accepted an offer from Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr for Laporte this week, though it remains to be seen if the defender will be tempted by the chance to join an increasingly long list of Premier League stars moving to the gulf state.

Laporte is understood to be weighing up the offer, worth £15.7 million as per reports, but is yet to give a go-ahead for the move as Real Madrid circle and assess the chances of hijacking Al-Nassr’s approach for the Manchester City man.

Martin Blackburn of The Sun has further reported that the La Liga giants could swoop in for Laporte, who is waiting to see if Carlo Ancelotti strengthens his interest in the Spaniard following Eder Militao’s injury.

The coming weeks are set to decide what the near future will hold for Laporte but it has been indicated that the Manchester City centre-half will not force an exit unless he fancies a move away from the north-west.