New club enter fray for Manuel Akanji as they tee up Premier League double swoop

Manuel Akanji has been added to AC Milan’s transfer shortlist ahead of next week’s deadline day.

The central defender has been bombed out of manager Pep Guardiola’s plans at Manchester City and is reportedly available to leave should the right offer arrive.

Swiss international Akanji has already been the subject of transfer interest this window with a £15million bid from Galatasaray accepted by his club.

It is being reported that the 30-year-old rejected the chance to move to Turkey after Akanji clamped guru Fabrizio Romano when the Italian transfer journalist claimed contact had then been made to the player’s camp.

AC Milan want Man City’s Manuel Akanji

Galatasaray may have missed out on their top defensive target but there is now another club who have emerged to compete with them for the centre-half.

AC Milan are reportedly ready to challenge Gala and have opened a dialogue between themselves and City with a move on the cards.

Akanji managed 40 appearances for the Citizens in all competitions last season but he was not involved in the club’s opening Premier League matchday win over Wolves at Molineux despite sitting on the sidelines.

It was Abdukodir Khusanov who replaced John Stones rather than Akanji and that may be one of the biggest hints at his future being away from the Etihad.

Milan would be an interesting prospect for Akanji and it would come as the Serie A giants also plot another transfer swoop from English football’s top flight.

According to Romano, Milan are hopeful of landing Chelsea’s Christopher Nkunku on a permanent deal and not on a loan deal.

The Frenchman, 27, has even been given the “here we go” treatment from the journo despite the interest only recently emerging.

Christopher Nkunku agrees Milan switch

Bayern Munich and Nkunku’s former club, RB Leipzig, were both linked with a move for the attacker who played 18 goals and five assists in 62 appearances for the Blues.

It appears he will now ply his trade for Massimiliano Allegri in Serie A as he looks to get his career back on track following a lack of recent minutes at Stamford Bridge under Enzo Maresca.

Chelsea still want both Alejandro Garnacho and Xavi Simons as attacking options in their squad albeit Tottenham entered the race for Dutchman Simons in recent times.

Milan will now have Akanji as one of their top priorities having landed their front man.

The Swiss will join the likes of Ardon Jashari, Sam Ricci, Koni de Winter and Pervis Estupinan among others if he does opt to move to San Siro.