The chances that a centre-back could leave Manchester City seem very real | OneFootball

With the transfer window set to close at 7pm on September 1st, Manchester City are in the process of trimming the size of Pep Guardiola’s squad. Players will leave City before the transfer window closes. Who those players will be remains to be seen. It has been reported that Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji are attracting interest from various clubs. There is a realistic chance that either player could leave Manchester City in the coming days.

Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji are attracting interest from a host of clubs eager to strengthen their defence.

Ahad Shaukat has reported for Caughtoffside.com that Newcastle United, West Ham United and Everton are considering moving to sign Nathan Ake. Furthermore, Shaukat reports that Ake could be open to a move to a club that can offer him consistent opportunities to start matches. Shaukat further reports that City could be open to selling Ake for a transfer fee of between €30-35 million. Whether or not West Ham, Newcastle or Everton are prepared to pay Manchester City’s asking price remains to be seen.

Sky Sports News has reported that Crystal Palace have approached Manchester City to sign Manuel Akanji. Furthermore, Sky Sports News reports that Crystal Palace is eager to sign a centre-back in case Marc Guehi leaves the club.

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Manuel Akanji or Nathan Ake leave Manchester City.

With Pep Guardiola’s squad stacked with options at centre-back, it would not be surprising to see Manuel Akanji or Nathan Ake leave Manchester City. Pep Guardiola wants a smaller squad to work with. That way, he can maintain squad harmony by not having to leave too many players out of his matchday squad. When assessing which player out of Ake or Akanji would be the favourite to leave, Akanji would seem to be the favourite.

Nathan Ake is a homegrown player, and that fact makes him an invaluable component of the make-up of Manchester City’s squad. City has a limited amount of homegrown players and will not want to sell one so late in the transfer window. Manual Akanji is not. That would make him the favourite to leave City this summer out of the two players mentioned.

It would not be a surprise Manuel Akanji or Nathan Ake leave Manchester City before the transfer window closes. Pep Guardiola’s squad needs to be trimmed and now it remains to be seen if either leaves the club in the coming days.