Man City close to agreeing deal for Bundesliga defender

Manchester City are reportedly close to agreeing a deal for Borussia Dortmund defender Manuel Akanji. 

According to Sky Sports, the Premier League champions are working on the move with the aim of completing a deal before Thursday’s transfer deadline.

Akanji, 27, joined Dortmund from Basel in 2018 and was a regular for the German side up until the end of last season, making 158 appearances to date.

The Swiss international, a centre-back who can also play at right-back, has entered into the final 12 months of his contract and is yet to feature in a matchday squad for Dortmund this season.

It is suggested by other reports, including one from the BBC, that the player would cost City just £15 million, a sum that would seemingly represent great value for an experienced international defender.

Akanji is close to joining Man City

Pep Guardiola already has a plethora of talent available to him at centre-back, with John Stones, Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake and Aymeric Laporte all jostling for the two starting spots in his side.

Both Ake and Laporte have missed games through injury already this season, though, so Akanji could be a welcome addition if he does join City before the deadline.

The 41-time Switzerland international won the German Cup alongside Erling Haaland last season, and it now appears that a reunion could be on the cards with Akanji potentially following the striker to The Etihad.

During his four years in the Bundesliga, Akanji has established himself as one of the league’s best central defenders, and the former Basel man would add valuable experience to Guardiola’s side if he does join.