Laporte will continue at Bilbao, says San Jose

Mikel San Jose said he is confident team-mate Aymeric Laporte will reject interest from the Premier League to stay with Athletic Bilbao next season. 

Laporte, 21, has been heavily linked with a move to England, most notably to League Cup winners and Champions League semi-finalists Manchester City.

City were reportedly interested in activating Laporte’s €50million buyout clause as they look to strengthen their defence under incoming manager Pep Guardiola. 

However, San Jose – who played for Liverpool’s reserves between 2007 and 2009 – is certain France Under-21 international Laporte will continue with the Basque club. 

“I am confident that he will continue with us,” San Jose told Onda Vasca. 

“If I have to get wet, I get wet but I guess in football you never know what can happen.

“A league like the Premier League is always making very high transfers and you never know, but I think [Aymeric] is very focused and very happy here. 

“If I have to say something, I trust he will continue with us. He knows he’s at a great club, in a great lockeroom and a great city to grow. In that sense, I’m calm.”