Aymeric Laporte has seemingly hinted at a possible exit from Manchester City this summer after posting a cryptic message on social media.
The 28-year-old has fallen down the pecking order at the Etihad Stadium this season, making just 16 appearances across all competitions including only six starts in the Premier League.
Laporte suffered with a knee injury at the beginning of the campaign, but he has since struggled for regular game time with Ruben Dias, John Stones, Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake all preferred ahead of him in Pep Guardiola's side.
The Spain international had been a reliable member of Guardiola squad since arriving from Athletic Bilbao in January 2018 and has been part of four successful Premier League title-winning squads in the last five seasons.
However, Laporte now appears to have become City's fifth-choice centre-back since the World Cup break, and a move away from the Etihad is looking increasingly likely.
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Laporte, who is under contract on the blue side of Manchester until June 2025, is believed to be open to seeking pastures new and is said to have a 'concrete possibility' of securing a transfer away from the club this summer.
With speculation over his future already rife, the defender has since dropped a hint to suggest that he will be on the move in the next transfer window after posting a video on his Instagram story on Wednesday.
Laporte's video included the message: "After the rain, a rainbow; after a storm, the calm; and after an end, a new beginning."
City's No.14 has been strongly linked with a number of top European clubs in recent months including La Liga leaders Barcelona, who are understood to have held an interest in the defender for some time.
Ig Laporte: "After the rain, a rainbow; after a storm, the calm; and after an end, a new beginning. ✨✨" [laporte] pic.twitter.com/rqPZGKosGg
— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) April 12, 2023
Spanish giants Real Madrid have also been credited with an interest along with French champions Paris Saint-Germain and Italian duo Juventus and Roma.
A recent report claims that Tottenham Hotspur are another club to have entered the race for Laporte's signature, although City are said to have no interest in selling the defender to a Premier league rival.
Should Laporte leave the Etihad this summer, City are understood to have identified RB Leipzig star and fellow left-footed defender Josko Gvardiol as one of their primary targets.
The Citizens are also said to be keeping tabs on Gvardiol's Croatian compatriot Luka Vuskovic, with a recent report claiming that they have tabled an opening bid worth a total of €12m (£10.5m) for the 16-year-old Hajduk Split centre-back.
Laporte is not the only City player facing an uncertain future as both Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan have been heavily linked with a summer departure, the latter of whom is out of contract in June.
Oliver Thomas
