The first signing through the door when Pep Guardiola arrives at the Etihad may not be the superstar you expected.
Reports in Spain claim that Manchester City have agreed a deal with Athletic Bilbao for their central defender Aymeric Laporte.
Spanish outlet Sport reports that shortly after Pep Guardiola announced that he was set to become the next City manager at the start of next season, he requested that the club sign the 21-year-old defender.
The Frenchman had been monitored by Real Madrid and Barcelona, as well as City’s arch-rivals Manchester United, but it’s understood that Guardiola was the deciding factor for the young centre-half and that a deal has been agreed in principle.
There is no transfer fee mentioned but it’s believed that Laporte signed a new four-year contract last summer with a release clause of €50m (£40m).
Laporte is seen as the first piece in the defensive reshuffle expected under Guardiola – with Everton defender John Stones also believed to be a top target.
