Two big reasons why Arsenal won’t sign £25m ace, injuries a big worry

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Manuel Akanji’s injury record could scupper Borussia Dortmund’s hopes of securing a £25 million fee despite interest from Premier League giants Arsenal, as reported by BILD.

While Dortmund can point to a rather remarkable track record when it comes to turning exciting young forwards into free-scoring superstars – from Erling Haaland to Jadon Sancho – the Bundesliga giants certainly haven’t enjoyed quite the same success at the other end of the pitch.

Dan-Axel Zagadou was released last month, paying the price for failing to build on to the vast potential he initially showcased after arriving from Paris Saint-Germain.

Akanji finds himself in a similar situation, at serious risk of being pushed out the door with his contract running down.

And, like Zagadou before him, Akanji will leave the Signal Iduna Park with a pang of regret deep in his stomach. The Swiss international has struggled to find form or fitness on a consistent basis, with Transfermarkt claiming that he has suffered 12 different injuries during just four years on the banks of the Rhine.

Are Arsenal right to turn down Manuel Akanji?

What’s more, Akanji has not started more than 26 games in any of his Bundesliga campaigns. No wonder Dortmund are struggling to find a club willing to stump up £25 million. Especially when you consider Akanji will become a free-agent in just 12 months’ time.

BILD believe that Arsenal have shown a ‘serious interest’ in the past. The Gunners are unlikely to make a move any time soon, however. The Sun back up those claims. They say Mikel Arteta would prefer to bring in a left-footed centre-half to provide competition for Gabriel Magalhaes at the Emirates Stadium.

Nico Schlotterbeck was one such target. Ironically, his arrival at Dortmund instead will serve to push Akanji further down the pecking order.

Arsenal also like Inter Milan’s Federico Dimarco. But the Italian would only make sense if Arteta utilises an Antonio Conte-esque three-man backline on a more regular basis.