Man City's bargain £14m solution rewrites Pep Guardiola plans as Jude Bellingham shows true colours

"Sometimes the players make a step up, the other ones. Manu is playing unbelievable now, Nathan was unbelievable as well. That's why."

Pep Guardiola was asked why John Stones was not starting during Manchester City's run-in to the Premier League title in May, and Manuel Akanji was the first name out of his mouth.

Stones is the transformational centre-back of the treble season, marauding into midfield and breaking records in the Champions League final previously held by Lionel Messi. Now, he's arguably fourth or fifth choice at centre-back for City.

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Part of Stones' omission from the first choice defence at the end of last season was his frustrating campaign with injuries. He simply couldn't give himself a run of fixtures to hold down his place and allowed others to step in and impress.

Akanji was the main man to do that, adding Stones to his list of undroppables he has forced out of the City team in his two seasons at the club. He started ahead of Kyle Walker at right-back in the Champions League final, kept Ruben Dias out of the XI at Anfield for a must-win title battle, and then consigned Stones to the bench during the run-in.

Asked about that start at Liverpool, Akanji hit back at the idea it was a surprise for him to play ahead of Dias. He launched a strong defence of his own game, and backed it up in the big games. He is - aptly - City's Swiss Army Knife, playing on the left and in defensive midfield, too. And he only cost £14m.

At Euro 2024, he will be remembered for his poor penalty that cost Switzerland a semi-final spot,