Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji is reportedly wanted by four clubs ahead of next Monday’s transfer deadline.
The 30-year-old joined the Citizens from Borussia Dortmund for £15m in 2022 and he has since made a total 136 appearances for the club across all competitions.
Akanji is a two-time Premier League winner who has lifted seven trophies in total with Man City, and he was part of the squad that celebrated a historic treble in the 2022-23 campaign.
The Switzerland international played 37 times under Pep Guardiola last season, but he is yet to make an appearance for City in the new campaign and was left out of the matchday squad for last weekend’s 2-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.
After the match, Guardiola insisted that his decision was purely rotation-based as he manages a bloated squad, suggesting that Akanji's absence was not transfer-related.
Manchester City's Manuel Akanji on June 30, 2025
Man City’s Akanji yet to accept Galatasaray proposal
However, with Ruben Dias extending his contract until 2029 and Man City seemingly having one eye on the future - with young trio Abdukodir Khusanov, Vitor Reis and Juma Bah all signed since the turn of the year - Akanji has been tipped to leave the Etihad.
Even though Akanji still has two years remaining on his contract at Man City, it has been suggested that the defender is “100%” heading for the exit door, wit Guardiola “gently nudging” him out after omitting him from his matchday squad.
Galatasaray have been credited with an interest in Akanji, but the defender recently denied suggestions that a deal was close following reports of Man City accepting a £15m offer from the Turkish giants.
According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Akanji is yet to accept Galatasaray’s proposal now that a club-to-club agreement is in place, but the defender is considering his future ahead of the transfer deadline.
Manchester City's Manuel Akanji on December 4, 2024
Akanji weighing up future amid interest from four clubs
Romano adds that AC Milan, Bayer Leverkusen and Crystal Palace have also approached Akanji, but a deal for the defender to leave Man City is yet to reach an advanced stage.
Serie A giants Milan are said to have ‘asked for deal conditions’ for Akanji, who is one of three names on their centre-back shortlist, but no formal bid has been made at this stage.
Despite the absence of European football this season, Milan have signed seven players so far this summer, including centre-back Koni De Winter for €20m and legendary midfielder Luka Modric on a free transfer.
Galatasaray, Leverkusen and Palace, meanwhile, are all competing in Europe, although the latter still need to confirm their place in the Conference League and currently lead their playoff tie with Fredrikstad by a 1-0 scoreline.
A move to Palace, who may need to replace Marc Guehi if he is sold to Liverpool, would allow Akanji to continue his career in the Premier League, which could appeal to the defender.
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