ARSENAL are lining up Borussia Dortmund centre-back Manuel Akanji for £25million after opening talks in January.
That’s according to reports in Germany and Akanji’s native Switzerland as Gunners boss Mikel Arteta prioritises strengthening his defence.
⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
Arsenal target Manuel Akanji played the whole game on Saturday as Dortmund returned to Bundesliga action by thrashing Schalke 4-0
Switzerland defender Manuel Akanji has reportedly remained on the target list for Arsenal, with a £25m bid said to be likely
Arsenal are thought to have failed with a bid for the ex-Basel star last summer before launching negotiations for the 24-year-old early this year.
Dortmund are said to have blocked his departure last year after losing fellow central defender Abdou Diallo to Paris Saint-Germain.
But German outlet FussballTransfers.com claim Arsenal officials then held concrete discussions with Dortmund counterparts in the last transfer window over a move this summer.
Akanji fell out of favour with coach Lucien Favre this term despite impressing last season, his first in Germany.
But he played the full 90 minutes on Saturday as Dortmund thumped Schalke 4-0 when the Bundesliga became the first league to return amid the coronavirus pandemic.
And he is the type of powerful figure Arteta is believed to be keen on.
He already plays alongside Gunners midfielder Granit Xhaka at international level, having won 22 caps.
Arsenal shipped 36 Premier League goals to slump to ninth before Covid-19 halted football in March.
Dortmund paid £15m for Akanji in January 2018 after he helped Basel win two Super League titles and a Swiss Cup.
The 6ft 1ins ace is under contract until 2022.
Gordan Strachan narrates Arsene Wenger’s sending off vs Man United by fourth official for kicking a plastic bottle
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
