Aymeric Laporte: Confusion reigns over £57m move to Manchester City

There are growing suggestions that the 23-year-old Frenchman could be a City player by as early as Monday but Athletic Bilbao boss Jose Angel Ziganda isn't so sure

Aymeric Laporte is a £57m target for Manchester City (Getty)

Manager Jose Angel Ziganda says Aymeric Laporte has not told him he is moving to Manchester City despite deciding to leave him out of the Athletic Bilbao squad for the game with Eibar on Friday night.

The 23-year-old central defender has been a near ever-present for Basque club this season and was originally named in Ziganda's 20-man squad for the LaLiga clash.

However, Laporte was one of two players who dropped out of that group on Friday and played no part as the teams drew 1-1.

Laporte has been heavily linked with a club record £57million move to Pep Guardiola's Premier League leaders ahead of next week's transfer deadline but Ziganda said the Frenchman has not informed him that he is heading to England.

Ziganda said, in quotes reported by Marca: "I took the decision (to leave him out). I spoke with him to see how he was and he didn't look in the best condition.

"He hasn't rested well, he hasn't slept well. It's been a very busy week."

On suggestions Laporte will join City on Monday, he said: "Let's see if this rumour which seems so widespread is confirmed. He has not told me he is going to City."