Barcelona in summer transfer swoop for Manchester City’s Aymeric Laporte if club fail to get Euro ban overturned

BARCELONA are reportedly plotting a swoop to sign Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte.

The Cityzens are currently facing a two-year European ban from Uefa, which could result in a number of departures, although they are appealing.

However, it seems they might have to wait until August until that is heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

But with the qualifying stages of Champions League already underway by then, that may not be possible.

Several City stars have already been linked with an exit, with both Raheem Sterling and Kevin de Bruyne rumoured to be interesting Real Madrid.

Now Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo are claiming their La Liga rivals Barcelona are keen on centre-half Laporte.

The Nou Camp giants are desperate for defensive reinforcements and it seems they have identified the 25-year-old Frenchman as the ideal man.

Despite the continent’s big guns circling, City are confident they will hang on to their best players.

Reports emerged over the weekend that officials have held talks with several members of the first-team squad.

And they are believed to have reassured each player they are confident of getting their Euro ban overturned.

Laporte joined City from Athletic Bilbao in January 2018 for £57million.

He has become a key player for Pep Guardiola, but has made only eight appearances this season, thanks to injury.

The left-sided defender, who has yet to win a full cap for France, underwent knee surgery in August and only made his return to first-team action in January.

He was then forced out of City’s Champions League win at Real Madrid with a hamstring injury..