With each passing game it is becoming ever-more apparent just how good of a bargain Manchester City got for themselves when signing Manuel Akanji.
When it became clear that Nathan Ake would be staying at City over the summer the Blues parked plans to sign a new centre-back. Pep Guardiola was more than happy to go into the new season with the quartet of central defenders that served him so well over the previous two title-winning seasons.
But when Ake limped off in the early stages of the 3-3 draw with Newcastle back in August, joining Aymeric Laporte in the sidelines, City suddenly had only two fit senior options. Knowing John Stones' injury history - something Guardiola would later reference when discussing the signing of Akanji - two could easily have become one.
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That forced City to do something out of character; dip into the transfer market at the last minute and sign a player on a bit of a whim. Akanji was not a player City had been monitoring for months and months - as they had with Ruben Dias for example - but at just £15m they could afford to take the gamble. The expectation was that once everyone else was fit again, he would be fifth choice.
It's safe to say the Switzerland international has already been worth the modest price tag. Akanji has played every minute of the four matches he has been available for since joining the club - the birth of his child coincided with City's 1-1 draw at Aston Villa - but he looks like he has been at the heart of City's defence for years.
During his time in Germany with Borussia Dortmund there were often questions asked about his defensive capabilities, as well as accusations that he was mistake-prone. So far for City he has looked anything but.
While Akanji hasn't been asked too many questions so far in a sky blue shirt, when he has been called into action he has impressed. One such instance came in the first half of Sunday's 6-3 demolition of Manchester United, when Jack Grealish played a poor crossfield pass that was intercepted in a dangerous area.
Akanji was not in an ideal position given that he had not expected the turnover in possession, but he did brilliantly to stand up to Jadon Sancho and whisk the ball away from him.
In the same phase of play Akanji's on-the-ball ability shone through as he saw a gap emerge behind United's midfield and he surged into it. Once into the attacking third he laid the ball to the right-hand side to Phil Foden, and shortly after the ball was in the back of the net.
Akanji will be disappointed by his failure to apprehend Fred in the build-up to United's second goal, but that could perhaps be put down to tiredness and a collective letting the foot off the gas.
Akanji's composure on the ball and reliability at the back drew comparisons to Vincent Kompany from some City fans, although that might be a little premature. What is clear though is that like Kompany, Akanji was a bargain buy. That will still be the case should he go on to enjoy only half the success that Kompany did.
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