​ ​Manchester City are fast closing in on the signature of French centre-back Aymeric Laporte after Athletic Bilbao publicly confirmed on Monday afternoon that the buyout clause in the 23-year-old's contract has been met, releasing him from the Spanish club.





Laporte's buyout clause was confirmed at €65m (£57m) when he signed the terms in the summer of 2016, with Bilbao stating that the contracted amount has now been deposited.

It leaves Laporte, who was reported earlier on Monday to be travelling to Manchester, free to sign with City. He will become the club's record signing after surpassing the £55m paid to Wolfsburg for the signature of Kevin De Bruyne in 2015.





New ​Liverpool signing Virgil van Dijk (£75m) is the only defender in world football to have ever moved for a bigger fee, while City will now be responsible for four of the six most expensive defensive signings in history after previous big money moves for Benjamin Mendy, Kyle Walker and John Stones since 2016.

The arrival of Laporte, who is expected to put pen to paper on a long-term contract at the Etihad Stadium, could well signal the beginning of the end for City captain Vincent Kompany.





The Belgian, due to turn 32 years of age in April, has struggled with fitness for a number of seasons and made his latest comeback from injury in the FA Cup this weekend against ​Cardiff. Eliaquim Mangala may also be deemed surplus to requirements come summer.



Gianluigi Buffon You're an absolute club legend! Strong, wise and massively respected by your teammates. Roy Keane You're fiercely committed, outspoken and love to get stuck in! A leader of men who commands respect and demands only the best. John Terry You would run through walls for your team! Commanding in nature and a warrior on the pitch! Cristiano Ronaldo You're the talisman and a class apart from the rest of your team. You're not the loudest, or the bravest, but you deliver the goals and the results! Steven Gerrard You are the absolute heartbeat of your club. A 'Captain Fantastic' that can do it all and leads by example. Your striker has just been cut down by a horrendous tackle, do you... Which of these terms best describes you as a captain? Your fans have booed you after a poor home performance, do you... You're 1-0 down and the team's playing bad, how do you respond? You're 32 and you've been at your boyhood club your entire career, do you...

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