Nathan Ake is doing Man City a massive favour ahead of the transfer window

Nathan Ake has been Manchester City's most improved player by some distance this season and it couldn't have come at a more perfect time.

It's often discussed how forwards need at least a year to reach their full potential after signing for City due to Pep Guardiola's unique and complex methods and maybe it can apply to defenders as well. Playing full-back is probably the most difficult position in the side, after all.

Many have questioned Ake's qualities in the two years since his signing from Bournemouth and wondered why City had spent so much money on a player who was effectively a versatile backup. But those critics have been left eating their words this season.

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Not only was he the first-choice centre-back for the first half of the season but he has now moved to left-back or in the space between the two positions in a back three and is doing even better. So much so that City now miss him when he isn't on the pitch, which Guardiola admitted himself before ironically benching him for the next game.

Regardless of where he's positioned, he is now one of the first names on the teamsheet in the biggest games because he has repeatedly kept the top sides' best players quiet. He's simply excellent at winning back the ball.

He won duel after duel against Mohamed Salah and has nullified the threat of Chelsea's Hakim Ziyech, Tottenham speedster Dejan Kulusevski and Arsenal's star man Bukayo Saka in three crucial victories. Not to mention the winning goal he claimed against the Gunners in the FA Cup.

The Dutchman's fine form has continued for his country where he scored twice in the victory over Gibraltar this week and was involved