Manuel Akanji considering Manchester City exit amid interest from London-based Premier League club | OneFootball

Manuel Akanji has attracted interest from a few Premier League clubs ahead of next week’s summer transfer window deadline, as per a new report.

The 30-year-old has two years remaining on his current deal at the Etihad Stadium and Manchester City are open to selling the centre-half as they look to trim their bloated first-team squad and wage bill before the September 1 transfer deadline.

Akanji joined Manchester City on the final day of the 2022 summer transfer window and has played a key role in his side’s UEFA Champions League, Premier League (x2) and FA Cup successes since his arrival from Borussia Dortmund.

However, there remain question marks over the Switzerland international’s prospects for regular minutes in the seasons to come, with Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol understood to be Pep Guardiola’s preferred centre-half pairing when everyone is fit and available.

Moreover, John Stones has been allowed to stay into the final year of his contract at the Etihad Stadium and with Abdukodir Khusanov recruited from Lens in January, it remains to be seen how Guardiola’s pecking order shapes up as the 2025-26 season progresses.

Akanji was in and out of Manchester City’s starting XI last season amid a severe injury crisis that hampered Guardiola’s backline more so than other areas of the squad, with each of Akanji, Dias, Stones and Nathan Ake spending time on the sidelines at various stages of the campaign.

However, the Swiss defender returned to fitness at the end of the recent campaign and stayed fit into the new season, with City officials deliberating over the size and depth of their squad in the final days of the transfer window.

Galatasaray are interested in signing Akanji and has seen a £15 million bid for the centre-half accepted by Manchester City, who are willing to sanction a move that has recently been contested by Akanji himself on social media.

However, Mail Sport’s Jack Gaughan has reported that Crystal Palace and another Premier League side also hold an interest in Akanji, who is understood to be pondering upon a possible exit from the Etihad Stadium before the window closes.

It remains to be seen how Guardiola’s backline will take shape after September 1, with many expecting the recruitment of a versatile full-back to take priority after the summer departure of Kyle Walker and the ankle injury sustained by new recruit Rayan Ait-Nouri in last week’s 2-0 defeat to Tottenham.

Akanji’s representatives are believed to have journeyed to Turkey to hold talks with Galatasaray in recent weeks, with Okan Buruk’s side also keen on deals for Ederson and Ilkay Gundogan in this window.

The reality check handed to Manchester City by Tottenham last week is understood to have served as a timely reminder to the board that there remains work to be done before the window closes to streamline the squad as best as possible – if City are serious about challenging for the Premier League and UEFA Champions League titles this term.