Real Madrid Enter the Race for Laporte

Well, this just got interesting. Barcelona have been circling Aymeric Laporte for weeks, but now Real Madrid are reportedly keeping a close eye on the Spanish centre-back as well.

That is hardly ideal timing for Barça. Laporte has been considered one of their options to strengthen the defence, with previous contacts taking place with his camp and the player reportedly open to the move. Barcelona, however, still have to turn that interest into an actual deal. And now Madrid may have spotted the opening.

There is no agreement or confirmed bid from Real Madrid at this stage, so putting Laporte in a white shirt would be getting well ahead of the story. But if Madrid’s interest becomes concrete, Barcelona might soon miss the days when the biggest complication in this deal was simply the asking price.