Transfer deadline day scramble: Man City sign Laporte and eye Mahrez, Aubameyang arrives at Arsenal, Giroud in limbo
Wednesday shaping up to be frantic with Arsenal hoping to secure deal for Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Manchester City have completed the signing of Aymeric Laporte as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang reportedly arrived at Arsenal’s training ground to finalise his transfer from Borussia Dortmund, with clubs scrambling to beat Wednesday’s deadline.
Premier League leaders City are reported to have paid a club record £57 million (US$80 million) for Athletic Bilbao defender Laporte, eclipsing the £55 million they paid for Kevin De Bruyne in 2015.
The 23-year-old is also the second most expensive defender in history behind Virgil van Dijk, who cost Liverpool £75 million from Southampton earlier this month.
Last week, Alexis Sanchez signed for Manchester United from Arsenal in a swap deal with Henrikh Mkhitaryan and with the clock ticking, it appears Arsene Wenger will land Aubameyang to boost his forward options.
“I am very happy to be here,” Laporte said in a statement on Manchester City’s website. “City are a club with a lot of ambition and they are one of the best teams in Europe.