Report: Akanji closing in on Manchester City move after Arsenal links

Add as preferred source on Google

Just over a month after being offered to Arsenal, Manuel Akanji is closing in on a move to Manchester City, according to a report from The Athletic.

The 27-year-old’s departure from Borussia Dortmund has been on the cards for some time. He has not featured for the Bundesliga side so far this season.

And there had been a suggestion that he may be heading to Arsenal. Reports in July claimed that the Gunners had been offered the chance to sign Akanji.

The report suggested that Dortmund told Arsenal that he would cost £21 million. And it was noted that Mikel Arteta’s men had a longstanding interest in the Switzerland international.

However, it seems that the Gunners rejected the chance to sign Akanji. But that has seemingly not prevented the centre-back sealing a move to the Premier League.

The Athletic is now reporting that Manchester City are now nearing an agreement over a £15 million move. There is optimism that a deal will be agreed.

Akanji closing in on Manchester City move

Arsenal may not be too worried about missing out on Akanji. The Gunners, of course, have made a brilliant start to the season. And the likes of Ben White, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes have been excellent so far.

And it is hard to see Akanji being a key player at the Etihad Stadium. He is surely going to be in and out of the team, at best, when Pep Guardiola has all of his options available.

It is a low-risk move for the Cityzens. But you can also understand why Arsenal passed up on the chance to bring him to North London in this window.