Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte has reportedly emerged as a potential transfer target for Juventus.
The 28-year-old has played a significant part in City's success in recent years, the centre-back contributing to four Premier League titles and four domestic cup triumphs.
Since January 2018, a total of 155 appearances have been made in all competitions, a respectable return when considering that the Spain international suffered a serious knee injury during that period.
Nevertheless, according to Corriere dello Sport, Laporte is keen for more guaranteed first-team football, something which is not always a guarantee at the Etihad Stadium.
That alleged assessment has come despite 42 starts being made in the Premier League and Champions League during 2021-22, Laporte often being preferred to John Stones.
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The report claims that Juventus have identified Laporte as a potential like-for-like replacement for the outgoing Giorgio Chiellini.
The veteran defender recently revealed that he was ending his 18-year-old association with the Old Lady after making 561 appearances in all competitions.
Chiellini, who is just two months short of his 38th birthday, also made his final appearance for Italy on Wednesday night, the Azzurri going down 3-0 to Argentina in the Finalissima.
If reports are to be believed, Chiellini will now be moving to the MLS with Los Angeles Galaxy his most likely destination for the remainder of the campaign.
With regards to replacing a legendary figure who is departing on a free transfer with Laporte, the obvious stumbling block is a potential transfer fee.
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Man City paid an alleged £58.5m to sign Laporte from Athletic Bilbao and were prepared to hand the player a contract in excess of five years at the last extension in February 2019.
With three years of that deal still remaining, Juventus face the prospect of shelling out somewhere near the fee that the Premier League champions initially paid for his signature.
City and manager Pep Guardiola will give no consideration to parting ways with a key player for less than his valuation, particularly to a potential Champions League rival.
Juventus are also in the process of reshaping their options in other areas of the pitch with midfielders Jorginho and Paul Pogba possibly moving to Turin from Chelsea and Manchester United respectively.
Adrien Rabiot may be offloaded to help accommodate at least one of the pair, the Frenchman currently being heavily linked with Newcastle United.
Darren Plant
