Arsenal Eyeing £25m Move For Nigeria Decent Defender Manuel Akanji In The Summer

Arsenal are putting together a £25million deal for Nigeria decent centre-back Manuel Akanji after starting negotiations in January, according to reports.

Boss Mikel Arteta has prioritised improving his defensive options in the upcoming transfer window and according to reports in Germany and Akanji’s native Switzerland, he’s eyeing the 24-year-old.

The Gunners are reported to have launched a failed bid for the Borussia Dortmund defender last summer and also entered into talks over him in January.

Dortmund were not interested in letting him go last year after his fellow central defender Abdou Diallo moved to Paris Saint-Germain.

But German outlet FussballTransfers.com are now claiming that Arsenal officials entered back into formal talks with Dortmund earlier this year over a move in the summer.

The former Basel man has been in and out of the side under Lucien Favre this season despite an impressive first full campaign in Germany.

Arteta is thought to be keen on adding a powerful figure like Akanji to his squad.

Dortmund splashed £15m on the defender in January 2018 and he is under contract at the German giants until 2022.