Rating the top 10 January 2018 transfers and their progress in one year

#2 Aymeric Laporte (Athletic Bilbao to Manchester City)

Rock solid at the back for Manchester City. You don't have the second-best defensive record in the league if you don't have the second-best defender in the league.

When Pep Guardiola demanded this kid from Athletic Bilbao, a few eyebrows were raised. But for Pep Guardiola it is not a new thing.

Ever since he joined City, he has the free hand to demand any player he wants and Sheikh Mansoor would splash some cash on him. That's how it works. But what is different between Guardiola and PSG, is that Guardiola asks for players with potential rather than a big name.

Laporte was just one of the potentials that Guardiola loved. He only made nine appearances in the Premier League last season and he showed his worth in each of them.

City conceded only five goals in the nine games that Laporte played, and that included keeping a clean sheet against Chelsea and restricting Spurs to 1 goal only.

Come this season, Pep has put more trust on Laporte. Alongside John Stones, he is now the first-choice center back for Pep Guardiola with Otamendi moving to the bench.

But the only things that have changed are the minutes given to Laporte and the season. His performances are still the same, ever consistent. He averages the same 0.9 tackles and 1.1 interceptions that he did last season. Astounding isn't it?

Laporte's stats show his consistency and he has been ever present in the defense and at times pushes into the midfield as well.

The only person who doesn't trust Laporte as much is Didier Deschamps and he didn't make it to the Nations League Final without him.

Rating: 9/10

Verdict: As good as Aymeric Laporte is, we cannot give him a 10/10. Simply, he has done very well at the back for City, it is not like they don't face shots or counter-attacks. But we cannot have two people with a perfect 10.