According to rumours in Spain, Manchester City is considering swapping Aymeric Laporte for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong.
After falling out of favour the previous season, Laporte, 27, has resurfaced as a key component of Pep Guardiola's backline this season.
As a result, Barca are said to have selected the Spain defender as one of their top January transfer targets, plotting a second attack on City just a week after signing Ferran Torres from the Etihad.
Despite his excellent success this season, El Nacional reports that the Premier League club would be open to discussing Laporte's transfer to Catalonia in a possible De Jong swap. Guardiola is thought to be a major fan of the latter, who joined Barcelona from Ajax in 2019 and has 115 appearances for the club.
Given their financial situation, Barca are unlikely to be able to finance an outright deal for Laporte while still paying their £55 million fee for Torres in instalments.
De Jong's inclusion in a potential swap deal might entice City to do business with them for the second time this month, although the player himself may be apprehensive about the transfer.
Despite widespread curiosity about his future, it is anticipated that De Jong will not leave Barcelona anytime soon, as his current contract has five and a half years left on it. To entice Laporte away from City, the Spanish club would have to make a straightforward cash offer, which could be difficult given their financial difficulties.
Barca manager Xavi recently revealed that the club will be unable to sign Torres until their pay cost is reduced, encouraging winger Ousmane Dembele to reduce his wage at the Nou Camp. 'We'll evaluate how the salary cap situation is,' he said, 'and see if it's viable right immediately.'
'I'm sure there will be some players who go.' We believe that if we can persuade Dembele to re-sign his contract and cut his salary, we will be able to get Torres.'
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