Can they do it again?
After beating Manchester City to the signing of top target Alexis Sanchez already this month, Manchester United have been encouraged to pull off a similar feat by club legend Gary Neville.
On Tuesday, Sky Sports reported that City were entertaining the idea of triggering the release clause of Athletic Bilbao defender Aymeric Laporte.
Laporte has long been the subject of interest for several top European sides and it’s understood that City now lead the race for the Frenchman’s signature.
The Premier League leaders are apparently prepared to part ways with £60 million to bring in the reliable centre-half who has been with Bilbao since 2012.
This is not the first time this month that City have been favourites to land a target as they were clear front-runners to bring Sanchez on board at the beginning of January, only for United to elbow their way into the deal with a significantly improved wage offer for the Chile international.
Sanchez agreed to move to Old Trafford and United fans enjoyed a few days of bragging rights over City supporters in work as they pointed to their club’s history as the deciding factor for Sanchez.
Well now Gary Neville has urged the Red Devils to do it again and hijack City’s pursuit of Laporte.
In my very short time in Spain we played them 3 times ! This lad can play! Get in United … 😂 https://t.co/p3Bcqol4lH
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) January 23, 2018
Yes. Its really hard to get players out of Bilbao and costly but this lad is a very good player … https://t.co/DRsTdq6LVd
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) January 23, 2018
Speaking from his experience as a La Liga manager, Neville is a big fan of Laporte and feels like the 23-year-old would bring some stability to United’s defence.
Surely City won’t be ousted by their noisy neighbours for the second time in quick succession… Will they?
