Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji's transfer preference has reportedly been revealed amid persistent links with Turkish giants Galatasaray.
The 30-year-old has now entered the final two years of his contract with Pep Guardiola's side, and he is understood to have been the subject of a recent approach from Galatasarayover a late summer deal.
Akanji was an unused substitute in his side's opening 4-0 Premier League win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, but he failed to make the squad for Saturday's 2-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.
Guardiola affirmed after the game that his decision was purely rotation-based as he manages a bloated squad, making no mention of Akanji's absence potentially being transfer-related.
However, with Ruben Dias signing a new contract until 2029 and Vitor Reis, Juma Bah and Abdukodir Khusanov coming through the ranks, it would be a surprise if Akanji's long-term future lay at the Etihad Stadium.
Akanji 'wants Man City stay' amid Galatasaray transfer links
Man City are said to value Akanji at £15m, and the Daily Mailclaims that Galatasaray - who are also after his Citizens teammate Ederson - have shown a willingness to meet that price tag.
However, Football Insider reports that the former Borussia Dortmund man would prefer to remain at the Etihad Stadium for at least one more season, after he recently disputed a transfer claim from esteemed journalist Fabrizio Romano.
The Italian reported in a now-deleted post that Man City and Galatasaray had agreed a £15m deal for Akanji, who replied "don't know anything about that" accompanied by an emoji of a man shrugging his shoulders.
While Guardiola has not been shy in voicing his concerns about the size of his squad, Akanji is supposedly unlikely to find himself on the chopping block, as he is still seen as a 'key figure' in the Citizens' squad.
The Switzerland international is also not believed to be 'overly keen' on joining Galatasaray from Man City, whom he has scored five goals and set up three more for in 136 appearances across all competitions since 2022.
Akanji wants to stay, but who could leave Man City?
Manchester City's Savinho on June 30, 2025
While Akanji is increasingly likely to remain at Man City for the 2025-26 season, fellow Galatasaray target Ederson could still depart, in a move that would pave the way for Gianluigi Donnarumma to join the Sky Blues.
City and Donnarumma are now understood to have agreed personal terms, but a deal for the ostracised Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper still hinges on Ederson leaving the club, and there has not yet been a breakthrough in talks for the Brazilian.
Elsewhere, full-back duo Issa Kabore and Josh Wilson-Esbrand are both surplus to requirements at the Etihad, as is Kalvin Phillips, and it remains to be seen what the future holds for fellow midfielder Ilkay Gundogan too.
Further forward, Savinho is still understood to be the subject of interest from Tottenham Hotspur after losing out on the signature of Eberechi Eze to Arsenal, but City may wish to sign a suitable replacement for the Brazilian before sanctioning a big-money exit.
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