Louis van Gaal may be pipped to the post…
Real Madrid have joined the race to sign Athletic Bilbao centre-back Aymeric Laporte, according to MARCA.
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Manchester United have already been linked to the player by the Daily Star, and they will not welcome any interest from Los Blancos. Real are one of the only clubs that can match the Red Devils financially in world football, and if both of them are trying to sign the same player it could push the price up. The Bilbao president has already said that it will take €42 million to sign the 20-year-old.
With the Basque club unlikely to sell the Frenchman in the current window, it looks like both sides will have to wait until the summer to sign Laporte. Madrid are apparently interested in signing the youngster to eventually replace Pepe, while United are keen on him to strengthen their shaky back line.