Manchester city today

Pep Guardiola has backed his new signing Aymeric Laporte to be ready to play ahead of Manchester City's game against West Brom at the Etihad.

Laporte signed a five-and-a-half-year deal with City after they activated his £57m release clause making him the club's record signing ahead of Kevin De Bruyne.

"He is fit, he has been playing the last period so I think he is ready. Of course, he has to adapt, the Premier League is special in many senses, but I think he is intelligent and he will read the situation," Guardiola said.
Pep Guardiola could hand Aymeric Laporte a debut against West Brom
Pep Guardiola could hand Aymeric Laporte a debut against West Brom
City have also been linked with a move for Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Fred but Guardiola played down the chances of that deal being done before the deadline.

"I don't know. I don't think so but in football everything can happen. I am 95-99 per cent that nothing is going happen," he added.

Alan Pardew has also been busy this week, adding Daniel Sturridge to his squad on loan from Liverpool until the end of the season and he was full of praise for his new recruit