“New beginning” – Barcelona target Laporte hints at transfer exit

Barcelona could end up being the biggest benefactor of Manchester City’s 3-0 win over Bayern Munich in the Champions League, as far as the transfer side of things is concerned.

The sheer dominance of Pep Guardiola’s men at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night has not only left Bayern faithful hoping for a miracle in the second leg of the quarter-finals but also in some way provided Barca an idea of just how much they can elevate their midfield game by signing İlkay Gündoğan.

If there was ever any doubt regarding Gundogan’s impact at the age of 32, it should be clear after Bayern’s thrashing that he’s still capable of dictating the play and influencing the game in both boxes.

Barcelona want to push for his transfer on a free, and yesterday’s performance would have only strengthened their desire. And their pursuit in Manchester is unlikely to end with the signing of Gundogan.

Barcelona target Laporte hints at exit from Manchester City

The La Liga leaders have long been linked with Spain international Aymeric Laporte, who has hinted at a possible departure from City with his latest Instagram story.

The centre-back has fallen down the pecking order under the former Barcelona manager and wasn’t part of the resilient backline that nullified Bayern’s attack. He remained an unused substitute.

The very next day, he shared a story with the caption: “After the rain, a rainbow; after a storm, the calm; and after an end, a new beginning.”

As always, a cryptic post from any player is enough to fuel the transfer talks.

With Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake, Manuel Akanji, and John Stones all getting more minutes than him, it’s best for Laporte to look for a new destination. However, unlike Gundogan’s case (his contract expires in the summer), Barcelona would need a lot more than just the player’s ‘yes’ to complete the transfer.