Real Madrid could be interested in signing Laporte

Just when Sergio Ramos' contract extension may be starting to become a problem for Real Madrid and, on top of that, in a moment when Florentino Pérez and his associates need to decide whether they will try to do the same with Pepe's, an unexpected rumor has appeared today in Marca's frontpage. As they claim, Real Madrid are willing to sign the French centerback Aymeric Laporte.

'Quiere a Laporte' #LaPortada pic.twitter.com/D2DLYetq6H

— MARCA (@marca) enero 26, 2015

The Basque Lions have shown their interest on Real Madrid's midfielder Asier Illarramendi, and as far as we know they would be willing to pay €20 million to sign him. Although this would be a good deal for Los Blancos, given that Asier costed €30 million a year and a half ago and they have just brought Lucas Silva in, Marca's news writer José Vicente Hernáez claims that Real Madrid's managing board tried to take advantage of Athletic's intention to sign Illarramendi to purchase the 20-year-old centerback. Josu Urrutia, Athletic's president, is claimed to have denied Real Madrid's proposal and to have told them that they will need to pay the full buy-out clause (€42 million) if they want to see Laporte dressed in white.

Although Real Madrid's offer could have slowed down the negotiations about Illarramendi, we should not rule out this possibility just yet, as Athletic de Bilbao's coach Ernesto Valverde has publicly stated that they are willing to sign him, they are in trouble and we know they have the money.