Aymeric Laporte's future has been the subject of mass speculation this summer, although it now appears that the central defender will be leaving Manchester City  Josko Gvardiol has completed his big money move from RB Leipzig and that shunts Laporte further down the pecking order at the Etihad Stadium.

It had been thought that Laporte could yet feature for City next season, with the 29-year-old having scored for last season's treble winners in a pre-season friendly against Bayern Munich. However, he will surely be heading for pastures new so that first-team football can be guaranteed.

Athletic Bilbao appear to be in pole position to land Laporte. Football betting sites think that a homecoming for the defender could be on the cards, with the player having made over 150 appearances between 2012-2018.

Reports in Italy suggest that Juventus have also targeted the Spain international, with the bookies certainly considering this as a viable move. However, the player might still be keen on a return to Bilbao, where he enjoyed many happy years, and the Turin club's odds have now drifted in the market. There also remains the potential option of the City defender heading to Saudi Arabia.

Laporte earned his stripes at Athletic before signing for the English champions, with the defender having initially impressed for Manchester City. However, he wasn't a first-team regular under Pep Guardiola last season, with the central defender playing second fiddle to John Stones and Ruben Dias for much of the club’s 2022/23 treble-winning season.

Now that Manchester City have signed Josko Gvardiol from RB Leipzig, this move might still signify Laporte's exit from the English and European champions. It could be that Tottenham land the talented centre-half as part of their team rebuilding under new manager Ange Postecoglou, although Athletic Club now appears to be his most likely destination.

Although it’s not certain that the player will leave, Juventus and Athletic Bilbao are trading at a shorter price than Manchester City with most football betting sites when it comes to his club for the 2023/24 campaign.

Athletic Club Shorten to Land Laporte

Aymeric Laporte might be returning to Spain this summer, with Athletic Bilbao shortening in the betting to capture the central defender. It would represent a homecoming for the 29-year-old who came through the ranks at the Basque club, turning out for the team on 161 occasions between 2012-2018.

Laporte is thought to be open to a return to San Mames, with the team having finished eighth in the La Liga standings last season and they will hope to qualify for the Champions League next season. Certainly the capture of the Manchester City defender would boost the squad, with the Spanish international having previously been a rock in defence for the Lions.

At the time of writing, Athletic Club are odds-on favourites with most betting sites to capture Laporte's signature, and it would be a coup for a team that would hope that the defender's experiences with Manchester City can help them become successful in La Liga. 

Juventus Keen to Sign City Defender

Juventus looked as though they had leapt to the front of the queue to sign Aymeric Laporte, although their odds with the best betting apps have now drifted. The Italian club have an ageing defence, and signing the 29-year-old would improve their situation, while the Spain international would bring obvious quality to the team.

Should a deal be on the cards, it might be that Max Allegri has to sell a player in order to afford Laporte. There's definitely big interest in acquiring a left-footed central defender who can potentially be a long-term replacement for Giorgio Chiellini, with a fee required to land a player who is contracted to Manchester City until 2025.

Dusan Vlahovic and Federico Chiesa are players who can potentially leave for big money this summer, which would free up funds to lodge a bid for Laporte, with Manchester City only wanting a cash deal for their player rather than any loan agreement, according to reports.

Bookies Think City Stay Could Still Be on the Cards

Although Laporte is sure to be unhappy with his lack of game time, it doesn’t mean that the 29-year-old is definitely leaving Manchester City. Indeed, the latest odds from bookies imply there’s a fair chance the defender will remain part of the squad for the 2023/24 season, meaning that the France-born player will have to fight for his place.

Laporte recently combined with club team-mate Rodri to help Spain win the Nations League, and perhaps he might be able to get more game time next season, especially if he manages to avoid injury.  On the flip side, City have now signed Josko Gvardiol which makes it even harder for the Spain international to get some game time.

With Ilkay Gundogan having left for Barcelona this summer, the feeling is that Laporte is likely to follow suit, with some media outlets reporting that City won’t stand in the way of a player who has helped them achieve great things during his time with the club. However, he has been impressing for City in pre-season and perhaps he could remain part of the squad. 

Will Laporte Sign For Tottenham Hotspur This Summer? 

Aymeric Laporte has found himself shunted down the pecking order at Manchester City in recent times. Ruben Dias and John Stones have muscled ahead of him in the pecking order, while Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji are also capable of operating in that position. However, a move to Tottenham Hotspur could see the Spanish defender marshalling the entire rearguard.

There seems little doubt that Spurs have identified Laporte as one of their transfer targets, and the player has plenty to offer after making 179 appearances for the Cityzens and scoring 12 goals. He has been with City since the 2017-18 season but made just 12 Premier League appearances last term.

The chances are that he would become a regular at Tottenham and potentially help Ange Postecoglou build something new at the club, with Laporte also offering a lively threat from set pieces. Spurs are currently the favourites to land his signature with most betting apps.

Aston Villa Could Be Another Good Fit For Laporte

Should Aymeric Laporte decide to leave Manchester City this summer, he might find Aston Villa near the front of the queue to sign him. The Midlands club had a strong 2022/23 season after Unai Emery replaced Steven Gerrard, and perhaps the former can now persuade his compatriot to be part of a new-look team next season.

Central defence is clearly an area that needs strengthening for Villa, with Emery sure to be keen on a player who has achieved so much with Manchester City. The prospect of having Laporte at the peak of his career with his experience could end up being priceless to this ambitious club. However, the fact that the Villans have gone after Pau Torres from Villarreal perhaps suggests that Laporte's future lies elsewhere.

You might also be interested in:

• Football Betting Sites
• Best Football Betting Tips For Today
• Football Acca Tips
• Free Bet Offers
• Betting Apps
• Betting Sites

Barcelona Could Come Calling for Laporte

With Barcelona having just won the La Liga title and looking to make waves in the Champions League next season, perhaps now could be a good time for Laporte to consider a move to the Camp Nou. Having previously played for Athletic Bilbao, the defender will be keenly aware of what playing for Barca means, and this could be a move that suits all parties.

This transfer would also mean that he potentially follows Ilkay Gundogan to a club that will aim to win multiple trophies next season.

However, Laporte’s wages are not insignificant, and perhaps defence is not an area where manager Xavi is looking to strengthen right now, with the odds with most new betting sites suggesting that it’s more of an outside chance that the player will make the switch.

Tuchel Could Be Keen on Signing Laporte for Bayern

Bayern Munich swooped for Joao Cancelo in the January transfer window, and they might raid Manchester City for another defender this summer. While Cancelo was only a loan move, manager Thomas Tuchel might like the idea of signing a proven central defender in the form of Laporte.

After all, we’re talking about a player who has earned 22 caps for Spain since 2021 when he decided to play for La Roja instead of France. Laporte should be able to adapt seamlessly to the German Bundesliga and also help Bayern Munich compete in the business end of the Champions League next season.