Chelsea are keeping tabs on Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte, according to journalist Rudy Galetti.
The Italian reporter claims that the Blues are “monitoring the situation” of the Spaniard, along with Atletico Madrid’s Jose Gimenez:
🚨📄 Among the players in their list, #Chelsea are monitoring the situation of #Gimenez (#Atleti) and #Laporte (#ManCity). #CFC
✍🏻 The contract of both centre-backs will expire in 2025. 🐓⚽ #Transfers pic.twitter.com/kFWSgq9SVQ
— Rudy Galetti (@RudyGaletti) March 10, 2023
Laporte is expected to leave the Etihad Stadium at the end of the season, with reports suggesting that City will be willing to listen to offers of around £60m.
It is believed that the Premier League champions are prepared to let the centre-back go in order to finance a deal for RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol.
Whether they would sanction a sale to Chelsea, though, it remains to be seen. The Citizens were willing to let Raheem Sterling make the switch to London last summer but the England international had less than twelve months remaining on his contract.
Laporte’s situation is slightly different. The 28-year-old has also been linked with a return to Spain, with Barcelona having been mentioned, but they are unlikely to match the player’s valuation. In contrast, Chelsea would have no trouble paying the full asking price.