The 23-year-old is seen as somebody who can slot straight into the first team and he would play some of thier biggest remaining games this season
Manchester City's January transfer plans may have changed several times, but Pep Guardiola's long-term strategy has remained the same – and Aymeric Laporte has always had a prominent role in it.
Should he complete his €65 million move to City, the 23-year-old will have to hit the ground running, as he will be tasked with helping the club in their toughest remaining games of the season, and beyond.
Whereas City, at one stage, were prepared to bring in Jonny Evans as a solid but unspectacular rotation option for the coming months and use him as fourth-choice centre-back from next season onwards, Laporte will go straight in towards the top of the pecking order.