Screw "world class" - let's just say this.
Of all the center backs in the world that I'd want to start for City - 2 of my top 3 choices are starting.
Along these lines - Laporte - who last season would have ranked very highly - has - I think temporarily - experienced a dip in form - as he comes off injury.
Laporte, Stones and Dias will all want to start on a regular basis. Can we not move to a back three - at least every so often - to accommodate this, and to retain all 3 players? Yes, a back 3 is often seen as a defensive setup - but maybe the middle of the 3 pushes forward always... a false CB? - who knows...
At any rate, I'd like for us to retain Laporte next season - Laporte is class and should he leave our side - we'll likely be weakened as a team - as we're unlikely to replace him with a player of similar quality.