The Saudi Arabian raid on the European continent is showing no sign of stopping and this time, they are at the doorstep of Manchester City.
The Citizens have reportedly accepted an undisclosed bid from Al Nassr for Spain international Aymeric Laporte.
Laporte made 44 appearances across all competitions in the 2021/22 season, however, that tally reduced drastically last season.
Aymeric Laporte made only 24 appearances in the 2022/23 season as Pep Guardiola preferred a center-back pairing of Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji.
Manchester City signed the 29-year-old from basque side Athletic Bilbao for a fee of €65 million on January 30, 2018.
The Spaniard was previously the first-choice center-back for Pep Guardiola, but he lost his place in the starting 11.
Laporte is set to see his role deepen more this season, as the Premier League champions have also dolled out the cash to sign another central defender.
Manchester City signed Josko Gvardiol from RB Leipzig on August 5, 2023, for a fee of €90 million.
Aymeric Laporte also featured for only 11 minutes in the Citizens’ first game of the 2023/24 Premier League season.
This and more might have agitated the Spain international, whose contract with Manchester City expires in June 2025.
The want-away defender has enjoyed a relatively successful period at the Etihad, winning several trophies, including; 5 Premier League titles, 2 FA Cups, and 1 UEFA Champions League.
Al Nassr bid for Aymeric Laporte?
He could become the 5th signing to be made by Al Nassr this summer, having signed Sadio Mané, Seko Fofana, Marcelo Brozovic, and Alex Telles.
Several high-profile players have joined the Saudi Pro League and Aymeric Laporte might be the latest name to be added to that star-studded list.
Players like Karim Benzema, Neymar, N’Golo Kante, Roberto Firmino, and Fabinho to name a few, all penned deals with Saudi Arabian clubs this summer.
Cristiano Ronaldo was the first notable arrival to join the Saudi top-flight division in the last 12 months and his signing has signaled a massive influx of players to Saudi Arabia.
Ronaldo’s Al Nassr are also part of the four clubs that were taken over by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) in June, with the other teams being Al Hilal, Al Ahli, and Al Ittihad.
Al Nassr recently won the 2023 edition of the Arab Club Champions Cup, but they began the 2023/24 Pro League season on a bad note.
The Saudi Arabian side commenced the season with a 2-1 away defeat against Steven Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq.
Al Nassr raced into the lead in the 4th minute through former Liverpool forward Sadio Mane, but, two quick-fire goals in the 2nd half from Robin Quaison and Moussa Dembele handed Al Ettifaq the win.
Meanwhile, Aymeric Laporte has made 180 appearances for Manchester City, scoring 12 goals and providing 4 assists in all competitions.
He has also featured for the La Roja of Spain, scoring 1 goal and providing no assist in 22 appearances.
