In a major development, AS reports that Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has given the green light for the potential arrival of Aymeric Laporte to the Santiago Bernabeu this summer.
Real Madrid have been eyeing defensive reinforcements all through the summer, having opted to part ways with Nacho Fernandez and Rafa Marin.
With David Alaba’s injury recovery going slower than expected, Ancelotti is left with just Antonio Rudiger and Eder Militao as his frontline defenders.
Leny Yoro had been targeted by the club but opted to join Manchester United while Jesus Vallejo has been dealing with fitness problems.
As such, even though Ancelotti has insisted that Real Madrid do not plan to sign another defender, the door is not entirely closed on a potential arrival.
Laporte could join
Now, according to AS, the Real Madrid manager has already given the green light to the possible signing of Aymeric Laporte, who currently plies his trade for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
The Spanish international, who won the UEFA Euro 2024 earlier this summer, has been internally discussed as a possible signing at Real Madrid this summer but a concrete move has not been made.
Laporte, for his part, is understood to be willing to make the jump back to Europe and join Real Madrid this summer.
Real Madrid unwilling to pay a fee
However, a move will be difficult to pull off as Real Madrid do not wish to pay any transfer fee to sign Laporte and as such, the 30-year-old must secure a termination of his contract at Al Nassr if he wishes to move to the Santiago Bernabeu.
According to the report, Laporte’s agent has already initiated talks with the Saudi giants about a possible mutual termination of his contract which would see the player forego wages worth €48 million (€24 million per year salary with two years left on the contract).
But Al Nassr have closed their doors, as they invested €27 million to sign the centre-half.
The Saudi Arabian media claims that the defender’s intention has prompted an emergency meeting between Al Nassr’s sporting director, Fernando Hierro, the coach Luis Castro and Al-Muhaidib, president of the Riyadh club.
However, sources inform AS that Al Nassr are very calm about the situation and deny the claims of an emergency meeting.
Laporte, for his part, will not go to extreme measures to force his way out. So, it remains to be seen if his agent and Al Nassr can find an amicable agreement to terminate his contract which would pave the way for a transfer to Real Madrid.