Aymeric Laporte joins Ilkay Gundogan, Phil Foden and John Stones in missing Man City’s US tour

Aymeric Laporte has joined a trio of key Manchester City in missing out on the the American leg of their pre-season preparations.

Sportsmail revealed last night that Ilkay Gundogan, Phil Foden and John Stones would be missing City’s US tour and instead playing with the U23s in Europe.

The club has now confirmed that centre back Laporte will also be absent from the US tour, though it is not yet known if he will travel with the U23s.

28-year-old centre back Aymeric Laporte will be one of City’s absent players

Laporte was a vital cog in City’s Premier League winning side last year, playing 33 games after a couple of patchy seasons due to injury and the emergence of Ruben Dias. The 28-year-old Spaniard has won an incredible eight major trophies in five years at the Etihad.

City are not the only club to have seen their preparations affected by absent players.

Crystal Palace have taken just 10 outfield players on their tour to Singapore and Australia because some have not ‘met the entry requirements’. 

Patrick Vieira’s Crystal Palace could miss out on commercial bonuses due to vaccine hesitancy

N’Golo Kante and Ruben Loftus-Cheek were forced to miss Chelsea’s tour of America due to their Covid vaccination status.

Meanwhile, Oleksandr Zinchenko is set to complete a transfer to Arsenal — a move revealed by Sportsmail in May.

Zinchenko was initially unwilling to leave City but is now likely to end his six-year spell at the club and reunite with striker Gabriel Jesus — who sealed a £45million move to the Emirates earlier this summer.

Ukraine international Zinchenko, 25, is hoping for more gametime after making just 15 appearances in the Premier League last season. Sportsmail revealed Arsenal’s interest in May and he is valued at around £35m by City. The two clubs are thrashing out a deal.

N’Golo Kante and Ruben Loftus-Cheek missed Chelsea’s US tour due to vaccine statuses

Germany star midfielder Ilkay Gundogan is one of four players who will miss the US tour

Mikel Arteta is keen on Zinchenko — capable of playing at left back and in midfield — for additional versatility within the squad.

The pair enjoyed a strong relationship when Arteta was Pep Guardiola’s assistant at City. Fellow defender Nathan Ake was also open to leaving the Etihad but Chelsea would not match the valuation of around £45m.

City are keen to bring in Marc Cucurella, although Brighton value the full back at £50m.

Arsenal will accelerate their attempts to lock Bukayo Saka into a new contract amid concerns City view him as the ideal replacement for Raheem Sterling.

Arsenal are set to intensify their efforts to tie-down Bukayo Saka to a new long-term contract

Manchester City see Arsenal’s Saka (right) as the ideal replacement for Raheem Sterling (left) 

City have identified England winger Saka as their No 1 long-term target to take Sterling’s place in Guardiola’s squad.

City’s interest complicates the Gunners’ attempts to sign Saka to a new contract.

The 20-year-old has under two years left on his deal, with talks ongoing over a long-term extension.

It remains highly unlikely that Arsenal will consider selling Saka, as Arteta views him as crucial to his plans.

Riyad Mahrez has signed a two-year extension at City, taking his contract to 2025.

Key players Phil Foden and John Stones will also join up with the Under 23s in Euros