Why Aymeric Laporte to Tottenham rumour will quickly fade

Another rumour has resurfaced that has little chance of manifesting into anything more, as Aymeric Laporte is again linked to Tottenham. 

While Laporte would seamlessly fit into Ange’s 4-3-3, believing he’ll end up at Hotspur Way is a fanciful notion.

Manchester City doesn’t want to sell the left-footed centre-back to a Premier League side.

Pep Guardiola’s preference to sell him to another European league, most likely Spain, is shared by Laporte, who turned down Tottenham’s advances just a few months ago.

While a lot can happen in a few months, I find it hard to believe Laporte has shifted his viewpoint so decisively.

At the start of the summer transfer window, which, depending on the day, feels like yesterday and a decade ago, the 29-year-old was steadfast on joining Barcelona. While the Spaniard has always had a soft spot for Barcelona, his interest in signing for the Catalan side amplified after Xavi took the reins in 2021.

If it were 2017, when Barcelona’s extravagance gave the false impression of a financially healthy club, Laporte would already be on his way to Camp Nou.

Things aren’t so laissez-faire and ostensibly care-free in Barcelona nowadays, with the club scrapping and clawing to recover from its sobering financial destitution.

Whichever club secures Laporte’s services will have to pay about £30 million, which might rule Barcelona out of contention.

While Barcelona recently signed centre-back Iñigo Martínez on a free transfer, they still need another first-choice marshal, probably more than Spurs did before landing Micky van de Ven.

Laporte is on a palatable £120,000 weekly salary, an easily affordable wage for Tottenham. I’m not sure the same can be said for Barcelona, whose owners wish they could return to an era when a veneer of opulence reigned.

Unfortunately, Laporte’s wage bill isn’t the issue. The Spaniard has repeatedly rebuked any Tottenham advance, making his stance irrefutably clear. He doesn’t want to play for Tottenham.

Maybe Ange can convince him otherwise, but the gregarious Australian has his work cut out. Aside from the Barcelona factor, other La Liga sides must be interested. I haven’t heard specifically which ones, but a few are sure to come out of the woodwork, right?

Aston Villa and Arsenal have also shown interest. Surely Laporte would prefer to play for Spurs over Villa and Arsenal, but one can’t account for taste. Begrudgingly, I do see the appeal of signing for the Gunners, a side showing enviable ambition under Mikel Arteta.

However, all three would-be suitors face an uphill battle, as City will do its utmost to avoid selling to a Premier League club.

Add all those permutations and complexities, and you can see why landing Laporte is a long shot, like the chances of Leicester City winning the Premier League. Wait a minute, that actually happened.

Spurs may be in with a fighter’s chance after all.