Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte is delighted over his developing partnership with John Stones.

Left-footer Laporte says their natural balance is a major asset and part of the reason why Pep Guardiola was willing to pay his £57million Athletic Bilbao release clause in January.

“In football there has always been this idea of having a left-footer and a right-footer in central defence," he told The Times.

"That's a concept that Pep himself is also very keen on, having a left-footer and right-footer, which he hasn't always had before. I think that's what made him decide to bring me in.

“We work to get better every day. It's good to drill the defensive movements together, in order to be able to play big matches together, to gain experience together."