It is no secret that Barcelona is seeking to strengthen its defense, and the Catalan club has been linked with several top European central defenders, including Alessandro Bastoni and Émeric Laporte.
The prospect of signing Laporte is particularly intriguing, as the former Manchester City defender has already formed a formidable partnership with Pau Cubarsí in the Spanish national team, making him a natural fit for Barcelona’s backline.
However, securing the experienced defender is unlikely to come cheap. According to Diario AS, Athletic Bilbao values Laporte at €80 million, a release clause firmly stated in his contract. The Basque club has made it clear that this buyout figure is non-negotiable.
Laporte’s market value surged dramatically following Spain’s World Cup triumph, where his understanding with Cubarsí was instrumental in conceding only one goal throughout the entire tournament.
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