Manchester City will NOT stand in Aymeric Laporte’s way if the defender wants to pursue a move

Manchester City will not stand in Aymeric Laporte’s way if the defender wants to pursue a move elsewhere.

Previously an integral member of Pep Guardiola’s team, Laporte has been restricted to only seven Premier League starts this season.

Saturday’s inclusion in the win over Leicester City came as Guardiola rotated the team ahead of the midweek trip to Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

The 28-year-old has featured just twice in all competitions since a draw at Nottingham Forest in February.

That is despite Guardiola reverting to a back three, and often fielding four centre halves within that system.

With the player becoming increasingly frustrated over playing time, City will repeat the stance they took with Oleksandr Zinchenko, Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling last summer

It has left Laporte, who cost £57million from Athletic Bilbao in 2018, frustrated by a lack of game time and City do not want unhappy players within the squad.

That stance was taken with Oleksandr Zinchenko, Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling last summer, when the trio were allowed to join Arsenal and Chelsea after presenting acceptable offers.

Laporte has made big contributions to City’s recent successes, playing through the pain barrier during last season’s run in to help them hold off Liverpool to win a fourth title in five years.

The Spain international required knee surgery after that and was out until October, then unable to nail down a spot in Guardiola’s preferred starting XI after the arrival of Manuel Akanji from Borussia Dortmund.