Manchester United monitoring Borussia Dortmund centre-back Manuel Akanji
The defensive department of the Manchester United squad needs quality additions this summer.
It’s claimed by British media that Manchester United are monitoring BVB centre-back Manuel Akanji.
Manuel Akanji has been at Borussia Dortmund since 2018 when he joined from Basel. The 26-year-old’s contract is set to expire at the end of the 2022/23 campaign.
The centre-back has featured in 26 matches for BVB this term in all competitions.
The 26-year-old is considered to be one of the best centre-backs in Switzerland. Akanji has earned 26 senior caps for the Switzerland national team but is yet to open his goal-scoring account for his nation.
His performances this season have apparently caught the eye of some of Europe’s big clubs.
Ralf Rangnick wants to sign a new centre-back and Akanji is one of the names at the top of his wishlist.
The Switzerland international is thought to perfectly fit the profile of defensive player Rangnick wants to target in the summer transfer window.
United are in the market for just a handful of statement signings who can improve the first-team.
The former Basel man is often quick to scan the danger and is not shy of getting stuck in with some well-timed tackles to help secure possession back for his side.
According to the report, “Borussia Dortmund defender Manuel Akanji is back on the agenda of Manchester United. United have been following Akanji since his time as a youth teamer in Switzerland and Sport says they’re now taking a new look at the stopper. Akanji has rejected a new contract offer from BVB, with his current deal running to 2023. Watching developments are United, which raided Dortmund just a year ago for Jadon Sancho. Akanji, 26, has confessed of being a United fan when growing up.”
Euro Football Rumours
It would take a huge offer from United to prise the 26-year-old centre-back from Borussia Dortmund.
BVB would be wise to keep the Switzerland international, but if they do let him go expect it to be for a hefty sum.
Good signing for Manchester United?
The Red Devils must improve their defensive options and the signing of Akanji would be a step in the right direction.
If Akanji is available for the right price, then he could be a clever acquisition for Manchester United.
The 26-year-old has all the skillset required to be a success story at Manchester United. Therefore, it makes sense for Rangnick to step up his attempts to bring the Switzerland centre-back to Premier League side.
It will be interesting to see whether United will make their move during the summer transfer window.
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Will Manuel Akanji end up at Manchester United this summer?
Bologna-born Giuseppe Bianchi has spent more than a decade living in Rome and writing about Italian football, Spanish football and the Premier League for various Italian football portals and now he writes about European football for Euro Football Rumours. He's been thinking about football transfers pretty much nonstop since the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy. Aside from writing, he likes to spend his time fishing and rock climbing.
