The centre-half fell out of favour at City last season after Ruben Dias formed a formidable partnership with John Stones.
Duncan Castles has revealed that Aymeric Laporte, who has been linked with a move to Tottenham this summer, is kicking up a fuss to leave Manchester City.
There has been plenty of speculation linking City with a move for Harry Kane over the past few months.
It was reported back in June that the Premier League champions were ready to offer Laporte plus £100m for Harry Kane.
The suggestions of a potential swap deal for Kane have since died down, with more recent rumours suggesting that the 28-year-old could move to the Etihad in a straight cash deal worth £160m.
However, these reports have been dismissed by Tottenham, who maintain that Kane is not for sale.
With City now seemingly close to securing Jack Grealish in a £100m deal, it remains to be seen whether Pep Guardiola’s men will make a serious approach for Kane, and whether the Lilywhites would insist on Laporte being included in the deal.
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However, if Castles’ latest assertion is to be believed, the centre-back has certainly made up his mind that his future lies away from City.
Castles said on The Transfer Window Podcast: “A player you may not see playing for Manchester next season, certainly it’s his wish not to be playing for them next season, is Aymeric Laporte.
“Laporte, I am told, is pushing Manchester City to allow him and to facilitate his exit, and my guidance is he is making it difficult for City in the sense that if they felt they could retain him as the third-choice centre-back, use him to pressure Stones and Dias, be ready if one of them were to get injured or one of their form to regress, Stones being the more likely candidate there, and Laporte was to behave himself and get back into the team, they would probably go along that route.
“But the sense I am getting is that Laporte is kicking up enough of a fuss that City are being pressured to find a solution to this.”
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If Kane does push for a move as reports suggest he might, then one would imagine that Paratici and co would seriously be considering asking for Laporte to be included as a part of the deal.
The fact that the 27-year-old is left-footed and comes with considerable Premier League experience would mean that he would instantly improve our backline.
However, the question remains as to whether Laporte would want to move to a club that is not in the Champions League.
Given how Paratici seems to have a clear list of centre-back targets, one also gets the feeling that the club would insist on a straight cash deal for Kane if they do decide to reluctantly sell the England captain.
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