According to The Athletic, Manchester City are close to signing Manuel Akanji – who was offered to Arsenal earlier this summer.
What’s the story?
Well, the Citizens are now close to reaching an agreement with Borussia Dortmund for the Switzerland international.
Manchester City are expected to shake hands on a €17.5m (£15m) fee with the Bundesliga side for Akanji, who has fallen out of favour at the Signal Iduna Park following the arrivals of Niklas Sule and Nico Schlotterbeck.
It comes after Edu – Director of Football – was offered the chance to sign the Borussia Dortmund No.16 but decided not to act on it.
Pep Guardiola is usually well stocked in the centre-back department.
However, injuries to Aymeric Laporte and Nathan Ake have left the Spaniard short in that area, so Manchester City have decided to move for Akanji after he entered the final 12 months of his contract with Borussia Dortmund.
The 27-year-old played a key role for the German giants last season, making 36 appearances in all competitions.
However, Akanji is yet to play this season, which now looks to have helped him decide to leave Germany.
Manchester City could make Arsenal feel regret
If Akanji goes on to become a star at the Etihad Stadium – benching the likes of Ruben Dias, John Stones, Laporte or Ake – Arsenal will surely regret ignoring the chance to sign him.
The Swiss defender represented a fantastic market opportunity for Europe’s leading clubs this season, given his contract situation, age and experience at the highest level.
Akanji boasts 29 Champions League appearances to his name, as well as 41 caps for Switzerland, and for just £15m, Manchester City are getting a bargain.
To put that into context, it is the same fee Everton recently handed to Brighton for Neal Maupay.
Should Akanji go on to help the Citizens secure even more silverware, Mikel Arteta and Edu will surely kick themselves.
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