Manchester City are said to be close to triggering the €65m release clause of Athletic Bilbao defender Aymeric Laporte.

The former France Under-21 defender has a release clause of €65m which reportedly increases to €75m next summer, with his current deal at the Basque giants running until 2020.

A report by Cadena Ser’s Bruno Alemany states the English Premier League leaders have decided to activate the clause this month before it increases in July.

Laporte has made 222 first-team appearances at San Mames but with the emergence of central defenders Unai Nunez and Yeray Alvarez, his significance may perhaps become diminished.

Barcelona were previously linked to the 23-year-old central defender before their agreement for Yerry Mina.

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