Arsenal could pull the plug on move for 'complete' Manchester United target

Arsenal and Manchester United have both been linked with Manuel Akanji in recent months.

Back in March, BILD – via Sport Witness – reported that the Red Devils were eyeing the Borussia Dortmund defender.

In May, the same outlet claimed Mikel Arteta’s Gunners were looking into the possibility of landing Akanji.

Dortmund have reportedly told Akanji he can leave the Westfalenstadion in this window, for €30m (£25.5m).

The Bundesliga side has already confirmed the signings of Niklas Sule and Nico Schlotterbeck ahead of next season.

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Indeed, Akanji himself reportedly wants to leave.

He’s a very talented player, so it’s understandable to hear that Arsenal and United are reportedly eyeing him.

Michael Zorc has described him as a “pretty complete” defender.

And the Bundesliga website has compared Akanji’s style of play to that of Vincent Kompany.

Indeed, Liverpool reportedly wanted to sign him in 2017, before ultimately going for Virgil van Dijk.

‘Deterrent effect’?

However, a new report from BILD has suggested that the Gunners could pull the plug on a potential move.

The German outlet – via Sport Witness – claims there’s a serious ‘deterrent’ regarding Akanji – his fitness.

The player has been struggling with knee problems and had to undergo meniscus surgery in January.

That has proved to be a ‘deterrent effect on new employers’, such as Arsenal.

And despite the Gunners being ‘seriously interested’ in Akanji, they don’t seem willing to take the risk.

Could this potentially give Manchester United the advantage?

Admittedly, Arsenal aren’t particularly desperate to sign new centre-backs.

Arteta has Ben White, Gabriel Magalhaes and Ben Holding in his ranks.

And William Saliba will be returning to the Emirates Stadium ahead of next season.

So you can understand why Arsenal may potentially opt against signing Akanji.

But if United go on to sign him and he excels at Old Trafford, that would end up a bitter pill for the Gunners to swallow.