MANCHESTER CITY CLOSE TO SIGNING DORTMUND DEFENDER MANUEL AKANJI

According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund are close to agreeing on a €17.5 million fee for centre-back Manuel Akanji. The Swiss international entered the final year of his deal at the Bundesliga club, prompting Dortmund to cash iin Manuel Akanji has been a regular starter since signing for Borussia Dortmund from FC Basel in 2018. He made 36 appearances in all competitions last season, but his place was threatened following the club’s transfer business in the summer.

As Dortmund agreed on deals for Nico Schlotterbeck and Niklas Sule well before the season ended, Akanji was expected to fall down the pecking order. It’s surprising to know the 27-year-old Bundesliga ace did not attract the interest of some big clubs so far in the window. Newcastle United had been keen earlier in the window, but they may have other needs in the market than signing a new central defender. However, there may be good news for Akanji and his future, as Manchester City appear close to agreeing on a fee with Dortmund for the Swiss star.

Man City and Dortmund are reportedly close to agreeing on a €17.5 million fee for the defender, with the Premier League champions pouncing on what’s been regarded as a ‘market opportunity’. Not many would have envisaged Pep Guardiola signing a central defender, considering there was a need for reinforcements in other positions in the squad.

Man City have four first-team centre-backs in their squad, including Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte, John Stones and Nathan Ake. The latter came close to departing for Chelsea but ended up staying at the club.

Laporte is yet to play this season due to an injury, while Dias and Stones have proved to be leaky. Guardiola may have thought about bringing in another option to shore up the backline for the long season ahead, and Akanji may end up playing plenty of games during the campaign.