Galatasaray on a ‘UK mission’ to finalise Manchester City transfer | OneFootball

Manchester City are expected to hold face-to-face talks with Galatasaray to thrash out a deal for Manuel Akanji this week, according to new developments.

The Switzerland international has been the subject of increasing transfer speculation in recent weeks, with reports first emerging in Turkey that the Super Lig champions were preparing an approach.

While City had previously been reluctant to sanction further defensive exits, the door has gradually opened for Akanji to leave as Pep Guardiola looks to streamline his first-team squad for the rest of the now-ongoing campaign.

Manuel Akanji’s situation follows a season of fluctuating form and a concerning fitness record. While he remained a frequent option across centre-back and full-back positions during an injury-hit 2024/25 campaign, his performances drew frustration from sections of the fanbase.

As a result, there have been rising calls for defensive changes at the Etihad Stadium, particularly with John Stones reaffirming his commitment to the club in various media activities, and Vitor Reis joining Girona for the 2025/26 season.

Galatasaray had already been linked with a bold summer package involving multiple City players, including Ederson and İlkay Gündoğan. While those rumours cooled, the Istanbul club have returned with a more defined interest in Akanji, seeking to strengthen their back line with an experienced UEFA Champions League-winning defender.

Now, according to the information of Turkish journalist Yağız Sabuncuoğlu, Galatasaray have sent a representative to England to meet with Manchester City’s Director of Football, Hugo Viana to advance negotiations over Manuel Akanji.

Additional reporting from Fabrizio Romano follows a similar line, as he confirms that the Turkish giants are currently on a mission in the UK to try and advance on a deal for Akanji with their City counterparts.

Negotiations are said to be underway between Galatasaray and both Manchester City and the player’s side, with an agreement still to be reached. However, City are open to selling the Swiss international with Pep Guardiola wanting his first-team squad to be reduced in size.

The key factor now will be whether Galatasaray can meet City’s valuation and convince Akanji himself to make the move. As ESPN reported last week, City will only sanction an exit if their financial demands are matched, leaving negotiations delicately balanced.

From the player’s perspective, some outlets believe that discussions with his representatives in Istanbul have already taken place, though no final decision has yet been made. Should an agreement be reached, City remain unlikely to seek a replacement given the depth in the central defensive role.

For Galatasaray, meanwhile, landing Manuel Akanji would represent a major coup as they prepare for another Champions League campaign. All eyes will now turn to the talks in England, with both clubs and the player’s camp working to determine whether this high-profile transfer will cross the finish line in the coming days.