Manchester City target Aymeric Laporte suffers horror ankle injury

Rumoured Manchester City target Aymeric Laporte could be facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering an ankle injury while playing for the France Under-21s.

The 21-year-old Athletic Bilbao defender was stretchered off the pitch in Angers after suffering the blow during his side's 2-0 win over Scotland Under-21s on Thursday night.

After the game, Laporte gave an update from hospital via Instagram, in which he said: "I inform you that after the first analysis results are negative (bad). Tomorrow I will do more tests and I'll let you know . Thank you for all the messages of support."

A photo posted by Aymeric Laporte (@a.laporte) on Mar 24, 2016 at 6:02pm PDT

Reports emerged on Thursday claiming that City are willing to pay the €50m (£39.5m) release clause in Laporte's contract at Athletic this summer.

City's local rivals Manchester United have also been linked to the young defender.