How much is his release clause? Find it hard to believe we would be put off by price is we're prepared to spend £36m+ on a 19yr old winger. Do it Woody.
Aymeric Laporte | Signed new 5 year deal with Athletic
- Thread starter Hellboy
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Yeah dealing with Bilbao on deadline day, it's not like we tried that already 2 years ago 
I agree 100%. Was just thinking that it'd help since Laporte is a left-footed CB, a very good young CB, who would fit that criteria. One of Varane, him or Stones, were always my first choice.
Not saying there's anything in this, but I reckon that a way around dealing with Bilbao, especially at this late hour, would mean we would probably have to bid above the release clause (cue further 'embarrassment/humiliation' in the press) in order to smooth things. If we offered 1 or 2 million above the clause, I think they may be more accomodating.
Also, we don't know if relations are good following Herrera deal.
It's not going to happen. Athletic Club will tie us up in a million technicalities simply because they can't procure another quality Basque defender on short notice. We could've sorted it out much earlier in the window (like last season with Ander), but Louis seems pretty satisfied, unless the option was Ramos or someone of that caliber. Seems the club is actively monitoring him though, which sounds positive. Maybe we'll get him next season to boost the French contingent of Schneiderlin and Martial. Griezmann and Laporte would do nicely, and both have buyout clauses which should ideally make the transaction fairly simple. That said, personally speaking I'm a bit tired of Mendes clients.
A CB and a ST, on deadline day? Too good to be true.
We are just not interested IMO.
Bilbao and last day = not happening.
I think somebody said before Mendes isn't actually his agent, has some connection but not his agent. Like you I think it might be an option for next season. If this lad wants to become a full French international then he might have to go to a bigger club.
In theory this could work but we'd have to go quite a bit higher than a couple of extra million I think. Like Invictus said their policy regarding who is allowed to play for them means you really need a good amount of time to wade through the red tape they tangle every deal up in.
hmm a last minute bid to Bilbao on deadline day...what could go wrong? 
Dunno, it's all a little unclear, but I was going off this article and a previous one on Marca :
This is from before his contract renewal when the clause got bumped up to €50 million. @jojojo probably has a better idea.
Anyway, even if we don't get Laporte IMO there are other really good young options we could explore. And that's aside from Varane of Marquinhos or Stones. No-one mentions Rugani but he's the best young Italian defender right now, and probably the best talent they've produced in quite some time. Juventus has shown the tendency to sell players if a fair transfer fee comes along. Jose Gimenez at Atletico, another defender with a buyout clause. Niklas Sule provided he recuperates at Hoffenheim. I just really want the club to avoid Mendes.
Exactly.hmm a last minute bid to Bilbao on deadline day...what could go wrong?
Offer them 70m just for the hell of it.
Surely he could do better than Valencia, no offence?
Isn't his release clause £36m but then added taxes on top which would make it over £40m or something complicated like that?
Fair point, but Mendes' partnership with Lim is well documented and he reportedly gets a slice of the pie every time his players join Valencia. Anyway even if Laporte joins them next season, he'll only be 22, plenty of time for Mendes to wheel and deal him to Madrid or United 2-3 seasons along the line for double the current fee. That's just the way it works, previously at Atletico or Porto, and now potentially at Valencia.
hmm a last minute bid to Bilbao on deadline day...what could go wrong?
La Liga transfer window closed on Monday.. 11pm BST
Doesnt mean a thing, ours is still open. We're not signing him though anyway
Amazed he's still at Bilbao
The 50m sounds right, the Mendes connection I'm not sure. I saw those articles but Transfermarkt lists him as a Mondial Sport Management player - they're a French/German company similar in size and activity to Gestifute.
Given the other players listed as Mondial players are people like Edinson Cavani, Axel Witsel, Nemanja Matic, Varane - and include players/clubs who also have a lot of connections to Mendes and maybe to Mendes third party financing schemes I'm not sure that they are really in competition with each other. It would be no surprise if they have a lot of friendly agreements in place, even if they are different companies.
Barca bound next season imo.
That explains a lot. Thanks!
Should be one of, if not the top target next season. Him and smalling can be our CB pairing for the better part of a decade.
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