Manuel Akanji Offered Manchester City Transfer Exit Route

Manuel Akanji has been offered a Manchester City transfer exit route – with Galatasaray ready to make an official bid.

The Swiss international, 30, played 40 times for City last season but did not feature for the club in their opening Premier League outing against Wolves at Molyneux last weekend.

Pep Guardiola opted instead to go with Ruben Dias and John Stones at the back while it was Abdukodir Khusanov who came off the bench when the latter was given a rest by the boss.

Akanji did feature in the Club World Cup for City but it is being reported by transfer guru Fabrizio Romano that City have been approached by Turkish giants Galatasaray who hope to add the defender to their squad before the window shuts.

Galatasaray make transfer approach for Manuel Akanji

According to the same source – as well as Turkish media – Galatasaray also made contact with Akanji’s representative team as they look to make a deal happen quite quickly.

There is believed to be no deal in agreement yet, nor has Akanji made any sort of final decision on what to do next.

However, if the player cannot expect to play in the starting lineup this season at the Etihad, he could decide to make the move and play often at 30-years-old.

Akanji’s possible move to Galatasaray would certainly be an interesting one and indeed for more than one reason.

The Turkish club recently also made a play to sign City teammate Ederson and they officially lodged an £8m offer for the Brazilian stopper which would be a decent deal for the club.

It is being claimed that City are holding out for a higher fee but that they would be willing to sanction the sale of their goalie who has made more than 370 appearances for City.

Who Manchester City could replace Ederson with

Having joined back in 2017 for £35m from Benfica, the 31-year-old has been a standout and has lifted 18 trophies in the light blue.

With James Trafford arriving for a heavy fee in the summer already, that threw up question marks regarding Ederson’s future.

Stefan Ortega’s next destination is not yet known but one player who could likely replace Ederson in the Premier League giants’ roster of players is Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The Italian custodian will leave Paris Saint-Germain this window having had a fallout with the French giants.

City are understood to be leading the chasing pack to land the Champions League winner and a signing like the 26-year-old would almost definitely soften any blow for supporters of seeing their favourite, Ederson, depart.