AC Milan director confirms interest in Manchester City defender | OneFootball

Manchester City will be subject to late transfer interest from AC Milan, new comments from within the San Siro have seemingly confirmed.

The Switzerland international has been at the centre of ongoing speculation throughout the final weeks of the summer transfer window, with his long-term future at the Etihad Stadium increasingly under question.

Manchester City remain open to discussions over the 30-year-old’s situation, particularly following approaches from both Premier League and European rivals. In recent days, Tottenham made an approach, with the player included on a shortlist of defensive options being explored by the North London club.

AC Milan, meanwhile, have also advanced their position by reportedly lodging an opening verbal offer, believed to be worth around €15 million plus add-ons, as part of their efforts to reinforce their defensive unit before the window closes.

Manchester City’s willingness to entertain such talks stemf from their significant depth at centre-back, with Pep Guardiola boasting the likes of Ruben Dias, Nathan Aké, Joško Gvardiol, and John Stones among senior options, while Abdukodir Khusanov is expected to gain greater experience this season.

Now, speaking in a new interview relayed by Fabrizio Romano, AC Milan’s sporting director Igli Tare said of reports concerning interest in Manuel Akanji, “The change of system put us in a difficult position because we need to be smart and sign an experienced player, and he’s a fitting profile.”

This development is a clear public confirmation from Milan after weeks of speculation linking them with the player, and it reinforces their active pursuit of defensive reinforcements in response to tactical adjustments under their management.

Looking ahead, the next steps in this saga may come down to whether Akanji is satisfied with the personal terms offered to him by AC Milan or Tottenham. Previous reports surrounding Galatasaray’s attempts to sign the defender highlighted the Swiss international’s firm stance on salary requirements, which blocked a move to Turkey.

With Milan now joining Tottenham in advanced conversations with Akanji’s representatives, the situation could accelerate rapidly in the final days of the transfer market. City, for their part, appear prepared to sanction an exit should an acceptable agreement be reached, but whether Akanji himself is willing to accept the terms on offer remains the decisive factor.

If both clubs fall short of the player’s expectations, Manchester City may yet see Akanji remain for another season, leaving Pep Guardiola with somewhat enviable depth in central defence heading into the 2025/26 campaign, but a selection headache for the Catalan.