Tuesday 30 January 2018 14:41, UK
Aymeric Laporte was signed six months earlier than planned but is ready to make an immediate impact at Manchester City, says Pep Guardiola.
City completed their record £57m deal to bring Laporte from Athletic Bilbao on Tuesday, having originally planned to wait until the end of the 2017-18 season to sign a new central defender.
Laporte opted to remain in Bilbao when City last tried to sign him 18 months ago.
Guardiola did not confirm whether Laporte was signed before Tuesday's 12pm deadline to play against West Brom on Wednesday, but said the 23-year-old is capable of slotting straight into the Premier League leaders' side.
"We needed a central defender in the summertime but because we have a lot of games we decided to bring him right now, and in summertime our window will be easier because it will be already done," Guardiola said.
Asked if Laporte is ready to play for City, Guardiola said: "Yes, because he's fit, he's played in the last period, of course he has to adapt. The Premier League is special in many senses but he's intelligent, he will read the situation.
"But even for the English players it can be tough in the Premier League. We will be patient because he doesn't come here for three months, he's here for four, five years."
Guardiola said there was "95 per cent" chance Manchester City's winter business was done following Laporte's arrival.
The City boss praised the impact of Eliaquim Mangala during John Stones' absence earlier this season, and said Laporte's arrival does not mean Mangala will leave.
"Wednesday is the end of the transfer window, Mangala has helped us this season," said Guardiola. "I don't have doubts about the qualities he has, defensively he is a top, top player.
"Laporte adds something special with the ball. But we cannot forget how important Mangala was when he played the minutes.
"He helped us a lot when Stones was out. He's going to stay, we're going to have a lot of games to play."
