Manuel Akanji's incredible Man City start continues with Sancho moment as Kompany comparisons emerge

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