Manchester City target Laporte still in Athletic Bilbao plans

Athletic Bilbao coach Jose Angel Ziganda expects defender Aymeric Laporte to play against Eibar despite ongoing transfer rumours.

Manchester City's new signing Aymeric Laporte in action for Athletic Bilbao

Reported Manchester City target Aymeric Laporte is available to face Eibar on Friday, Athletic Bilbao coach Jose Angel Ziganda has confirmed.

Laporte has been strongly linked with a move to the Premier League leaders, who are expected to meet his €65million release clause and break their transfer record to complete a move.

But Ziganda indicated Laporte remains available for selection despite ongoing rumours about his future lying away from Athletic.

"I count on Aymeric for tomorrow," Ziganda told reporters on Thursday. "Without the injured players we will do our last training and we will give the call-up.

"We have to face this kind of news, but the important thing is the match of tomorrow. 

"Aymeric is available to train - he is calm."

Laporte was close to joining City in 2016 after the appointment of Pep Guardiola, despite having a broken ankle, only to reject the move in favour of staying at Athletic.