"?Manchester City have been dealt a potentially huge blow in their efforts to sign talented Athletic Bilbao defender Aymeric Laporte after the French Under-21 international penned a new long-term contract that sees his release clause dramatically climb.
Laporte has long been rumoured to be a key target for new City manager Pep Guardiola, along with Everton centre-back John Stones, as he looks to overhaul a squad that finished a distant fourth in the Premier League title race in 2015/16.
La cláusula de @Laporte se sitúa en los 65M. Ascenderá a 70M a partir de 2018 ? #athletic pic.twitter.com/IF94fY5gHz
However, the Aquitaine-born player has pledged his future to Athletic Club until 2020. What's more, a release clause that was previously set at €50m when Laporte signed a new contract this time last year, has now risen to €65m.
From 2018 onward, that value will rise even further to €70m - currently the equivalent of £55.6m.
Renovación de contrato de Aymeric @Laporte #athletic pic.twitter.com/sT4eEIBjMT
It remains to be seen if City will now continue to pursue Laporte. His previous contract renewal was enough to scare off Manchester United, and Bilbao are unlikely to accept anything less than the full release clause - as shown when Ander Herrera was sold in 2014.
It comes just hours after City were reported by a Catalan publication to have won the race to sign coveted German youngster Leroy Sane from Schalke.
A pair of full-backs, a new goalkeeper and a striker are also thought to be on the wish-list.
Just over a week ago, Sky Sports had claimed that City were in advanced talks with Borussia Dortmund over a deal for star forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in a move that would have sent shock-waves around Europe. However, the Bundesliga club were quick to deny it.
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