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Report: Arsenal can now sign 'outstanding' Champions League talent for just £15m
08/18/2022 02:00 AM
Borussia Dortmund have ramped up efforts to sell Manuel Akanji this summer by lowering the defender’s price tag to €20m (£15m), with Arsenal reportedly interested in the Swiss international.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, the Bundesliga giants are keen to offload the 27-year-old centre-back with just two weeks of the transfer window left to go, with Dortmund struggling to find a suitor for Akanji despite interest from the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and Inter Milan.
As per the report, the Serie A side, in particular, have an invested interest in signing Akanji, especially after the departures of Andrea Pinamonti and Cesare Casadei, which have recouped some much-needed funds for Inter to sign some fresh faces, though even with Dortmund lowering the defender’s price tag, the Nerazzurri still deem the centre-back too expensive.
With Arsenal potentially in the market for a new defender depending on the future of reported Aston Villa target Aston Villa, Akanji could be a wise replacement for the 26-year-old Gunners star should Steven Gerrard land the former Bolton Wanderers titan.
Indeed, Akanji could be a wise signing for Holding if the defender does in fact leave north London this summer, yet for Mikel Arteta, the 27-year-old Dortmund star is far from what the Basque manager would classify as a player who suits the profile of names the Gunners have signed in recent years.
Whilst Akanji has plenty of UEFA Champions League experience and has been described by former Liverpool star Stephane Henchoz as ‘outstanding’, the defender will remind Arsenal fans of the type of signings the club used to make pre-Arteta, and this could cause issues for the club.
Arsenal must ignore Akanji even will Dortmund pushing to sell
Arsenal’s transfer policy since last summer has been clear as day, sign players who are aged 25 or younger and ensure they’re fully committed to the project of the club, and for Akanji, the defender far from qualifies for this criteria, even with Dortmund eager to sell the defender.
Whilst there is a chance that Holding could leave for Villa, Arsenal should be working hard to ensure the English defender remains at the Emirates Stadium given how important the 26-year-old is behind the scenes, with Akanji also far from an ideal replacement.
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