Real Madrid favourites in Clasico battle for Man City target

According to Spanish outlet Don Balon Real Madrid are set to get one over on Barcelona once more when the transfer market reopens by securing the signature of a priority target of both clubs.

Athletic Club’s Aymeric Laporte is the man in question, with the centre-back having come close to agreeing a deal with Manchester City in the past.

The Frenchman looks set to stay in La Liga if the latest reports are to be believed, and champions Real Madrid could be the 23-year-old’s most likely destination.

Zinedine Zidane is thought to be confident of persuading his compatriot to snub the chance to link up with his former boss Ernesto Valverde at Camp Nou, as well as the lure of a link up with Pep Guardiola.

Laporte has made a strong start to the current campaign to ensure that Athletic are one of only two club’s, along with Barcelona, yet to concede in Spain’s top tier, whilst also impressing in another shut out at Hertha Berlin in midweek.

For his age he has racked up a significant amount of experience in La Liga, starting 141 matches and producing the second most interceptions of any centre-back since the 2013/14 campaign (338).