Forget the fees, the form is doing the talking

The summer window closed with City's cheque book doing most of the shouting. Enzo Fernández arrived from Chelsea for £125million, Iliman Ndiaye turned up from Everton, and the club handed Fernández the No.17 shirt previously worn by Kevin De Bruyne.

All of which is fine, as far as it goes. But transfer fees don't pick the team. Two games into the Premier League season, the side picking itself has a distinctly different look to the one the accountants assembled.

The kids have taken their chance

Rico O'Reilly, all 21 years of him, has started both league matches. Elliot Anderson has done the same, giving him an early foothold in Enzo Maresca's midfield before Fernández has even played a minute. Ayyoub Bouaddi made his debut at Selhurst Park, while Mateo Kovačić has had to settle for a place on the bench in both games.

For all the money thrown around this summer, it is the ones who were already there — or who cost a fraction of the headline numbers — who are setting the tone.

Cherki is making the point emphatically

Rayan Cherki came off the bench against Bournemouth and created both goals in a 2-1 comeback. He then started at Crystal Palace and scored twice in a 4-1 win. Four direct goal involvements from two games is not a bad way to introduce yourself.

Antoine Semenyo has started twice and played the full 90 minutes on both occasions, supplying the cross for Erling Haaland's opening goal at Selhurst Park. Jérémy Doku, meanwhile, missed the opening two matches through injury — not because Maresca had suddenly gone off him.

The picture forming is of a midfield in flux, and a manager willing to trust those who have earned it. Fernández knows Maresca well from their time together at Chelsea, which should help him settle. But knowing the boss is one thing. Dislodging an in-form 21-year-old who has started every game is another.

There is a long season ahead, and the £125million man will get his chances. Right now, though, the pecking order belongs to the ones who have already done their talking on the pitch.