Maverick Jeremy Doku of Manchester City is expected to become one of the greatest football players in the world.

Paul Van Himst, a great from Belgium who managed Anderlecht in the 1980s after winning eight league titles there, says as much. Doku worked for Anderlecht, which is thought to be the largest club in the nation, before moving to Rennes three years ago.

Doku’s summer big-money move has already made him a focal point at City. The 21-year-old was little known when Etihad executives paid £55 million, and many wondered where the winger would fit in with Pep Guardiola’s arsenal of quality.

However, a number of powerful performances have dispelled such suspicions, and Doku is now seen as one for the future. Many were persuaded by the wide man’s outstanding performance against West Ham United last month that he has what it takes to be a long-term Premier League performer.

Furthermore, Anderlecht icon Van Himst thinks Doku has what it takes to advance and become one of the game’s greatest players. The City winger has 16 caps at the international level despite his youth.

The 79-year-old told Belgian publication Voetbal Krant, “I have known him since he was young because he played with my grandson at the under-16 or under-18 level.” He moves quite quickly. That he is an individualist is advantageous to him.

But he will learn how to play in a team now that he has moved to Manchester City. Because if he plays two games at City and doesn’t pass the ball much, the other players won’t pass it to him either. I believe he will be among the world’s finest players in a year. He is quite multifaceted.