Barcelona Keen on Unlikely Deal for Man City Defender Aymeric Laporte

​Barcelona are understood to be interested in signing Manchester City centre-back Aymeric Laporte this summer - pretty much the only world-class central defensive option at the Etihad.

Despite his injury struggles this season, Laporte remains a core part of the squad, although he's one of several first-team stars whose futures have been discussed because of City's imminent Champions League ban.

Pep Guardiola's side are facing two years out of the ​Champions League as a result of Financial Fair Play breaches, and ​Mundo Deportivo state that ​Barcelona hope to see Laporte ask to leave as a result.

Barcelona have been tracking Laporte since his says with Athletic Club, and it is said that he is well aware of their interest in him this time around.

Quique Setién sees Laporte as the perfect fit for his side, and the boss is expected to be on the lookout for a new centre-back if Samuel Umtiti seals his long-awaited departure from Camp Nou, but Laporte might be a little too ambitious.

The Frenchman has shown no indication of wanting to leave ​City, who are ​optimistic that their ban will be suspended anyway as the Court of Arbitration for Sport cannot find time to hear their appeal.

City hope to be permitted to compete in the Champions League next season, which would almost certainly dash Barcelona's hopes of landing Laporte, but it appears as though La Blaugrana are going to watch on and hope.

They are looking for some more depth in defence, while there is also an acceptance that ​Gerard Piqué is going to have to retire at some point. The 33-year-old is still the club's top defender, but he is obviously approaching the end of his career.

RB Leipzig's Dayot Upamecano has been touted as a potential option, while targets like ​Chelsea's Andreas Christensen, Fiorentina's Nikola Milenković and Sevilla's Diego Carlos would all be more likely to join than Laporte as well.

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