Spain defender Laporte close to leaving Al-Nassr

　　MADRID, July 31 (Xinhua) -- Spain international defender Aymeric Laporte looks to be on the verge of leaving Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr after coach Jorge Jesus confirmed he was looking to sign a replacement.

　　Laporte has been left out of Al-Nassr's pre-season training in Austria with rumors of a return to Athletic Bilbao.

　　That move seems to have come closer after Jesus confirmed the 31-year-old was on his way out.

　　"We need a central defender. Laporte will leave Al-Nassr and a replacement will come in," the coach confirmed.

　　Laporte has spent two seasons at Al-Nassr after joining from Manchester City in the summer of 2023, but is keen to return to Europe to try and win a place in Spain's squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

　　Athletic Bilbao looks best placed to sign the player who began his career in the youth system of the Basque side, playing 222 times for the first team before moving to Manchester City in 2018.

　　Bilbao finished fourth in La Liga last season to qualify for the UEFA Champions League, but suffered a setback in the summer when it was confirmed that defender Yeray Alvarez has been suspended after a positive doping test for a product he used to prevent hair loss after cancer treatment.

　　As well as losing Alvarez for an as yet unconfirmed period, central defender Unai Egiluz suffered a knee injury in Athletic's 2-1 friendly game defeat to Racing Santander, leaving Daniel Vivian as the club's only fit central defender. ■