Arsenal and FC Barcelona transfer target has £30 million release clause inserted into his contract by La Liga club.
Arsenal and FC Barcelona transfer target Aymeric Laporte has signed a new contract at Athletic Bilbao, with a monumental release clause of around £30 million according to talkSPORT.
The 19 year-old Frenchman is considered one of the hottest prospects in Spanish football, having taken to La Liga like a duck to water, with some fine performances in last season’s UEFA Europa League too.
He came through the ranks confidently, showing real aptitude with the ball at his feet, and his fine distribution is indicative of his nature as a cultured defender.
Laporte is a fine exponent of the tackle too though, showing great strength and timing in the challenge, and his mature sense of positioning belies his years, and results in opposition attacks being thwarted before they have developed fully.
The teenager’s minimum fee release clause was just €3 million this time last year, but his stock has risen so far since that his asking price is now an extraordinarily high sum.
Arsenal are thought to be on the lookout for reinforcements at centre back, as they have just Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny and Thomas Vermaelen as specialists in that position – though Bacary Sagna can deputise there if required.
FC Barcelona meanwhile are facing up to the prospect of losing veteran skipper Carles Puyol to retirement, and Laporte could make a good – if expensive – replacement.
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