Manuel Akanji watches on during a game (Getty Images)
According to reports from Germany (h/t The Sun), Arsenal are sizing up a £25m summer swoop for Borussia Dortmund defender Manuel Akanji.
The Gunners held talks to sign him last summer as well as trying to sign him in January. But they were met with refusals from Dortmund. However, they are now set to revisit their interest in the Switzerland international. (h/t The Sun)
Akanji came through the youth ranks at Swiss club FC Winterthur and went on to make 37 first-team appearances before FC Basel signed him in 2015. The 24-year-old made 58 appearances for the club, scoring 7 goals in the process. He won two league titles during his time at the club, before signing for Borussia Dortmund in January 2018.
Since signing for the German giants, Akanji has made 76 appearances, scoring and assisting one goal apiece.
Arsenal are currently 9th in the Premier League and have been knocked out of the Europa League. Hence, it goes without saying that Arteta & co. need to strengthen the squad in order to push higher up the table next season.
The defence remains a bone of contention for the Gunners despite there being improvements since Arteta took over the reins. They have conceded 36 goals in the 2019/20 Premier League season, managing only seven clean sheets. Arsenal made 13 errors that led to goals last season – most by any club, and have made four such errors this season too.
The centre-backs have been a letdown once again this term. While Calum Chambers and Rob Holding have been plagued by injuries, both Sokratis and David Luiz have been inconsistent. Shkodran Mustafi started poorly but has recovered well under Arteta. However, he remains a liability for Arsenal.
Furthermore, Luiz is well into his thirties, so is Sokratis. Hence, signing a new centre-back should be a top priority for Arteta. And to that end, Akanji would be a handy addition for the club.
While he has fallen out of favour with Dortmund boss Lucien Favre this season, in his first year and a half with the club, the Switzerland international was one of their better performers when fit. He featured 31 times in 2018/19 in all competitions, helping Dortmund to 9 clean sheets. The German team have managed 12 clean sheets in the 34 matches he has played this term.
Akanji may not be a world-class centre-back but the 22-time capped Switzerland international would add some much-needed quality and depth to the side, while also infusing some young blood into the team.
Arsenal’s defensive problems are no secret. Things have improved under Arteta, but adding more quality and depth to the centre-back department would only serve them well for the future. Hence, bringing in Akanji would be a wise move by the Gunners.
