Man City target signs new Athletic Bilbao deal

Athletic Bilbao have announced defender Aymeric Laporte has extended his contract with the club through to the summer of 2020.

The 22-year-old Frenchman had been strongly linked with Manchester City during the summer but a statement from Athletic on Monday evening said Laporte had committed his future to the Primera Division club for the next four years.

It added the release clause would be 65 million euros (about £52million) for 2016-17 and 2017-18, with that then growing to 70 million euros (about £56million) for the two seasons after.

Laporte made his senior Athletic debut in 2012 and has played 109 times in the Primera Division.

He missed the end of last season after suffering a fractured ankle in March while on international duty with France Under-21s.