Manchester City have agreed to pay the €50 million (£39 million) release clause to sign French defender Aymeric Laporte in the summer from Athletic Bilbao, according to reports in Spain.

Pep Guardiola had identified Laporte as a top target for when he joins City this summer.

Laporte is out until August with a broken leg and dislocated ankle. Laporte is considered one of the world's best young center backs and turns 22 in late May.

Txiki Begiristain was pictured in Bilbao last month, with Basque newspaper EITB reporting that City have told Athletic officials that they are willing to meet his release clause. “It is a specific request of Pep Guardiola,” read the report.