Galatasaray make official contact with Manchester City for centre-back transfer | OneFootball

Manchester City have now received formal contact from Galatasaray over a potential deal for Manuel Akanji this summer, according to new reports.

The Swiss defender has been at the centre of speculation throughout the transfer window, with his long-term role at the Etihad Stadium questioned after a mixed 2024/25 season and recruitment in his position over the last few months.

Akanji’s versatility across the backline has made him a useful option for Pep Guardiola, but dips in form led to frustration among supporters. The 30-year-old also struggled for rhythm as City juggled frequent injuries across defence, and he often found himself rotated.

Earlier this summer, some had indicated there was no prospect of Akanji departing, despite links to Galatasaray. At that stage, reports suggested the Istanbul club had not placed him on their shortlist of priority targets. However, the situation has now shifted, with credible updates confirming that contact has finally been made.

Manuel Akanji’s name had also been raised during wider speculation around Galatasaray’s ambitious plans, which previously saw them linked with a triple move involving Ederson and İlkay Gündoğan. While those talks did not advance, it appears the Turkish side have reignited their interest in strengthening at centre-back.

According to the information of Yağız Sabuncuoğlu, Galatasaray have made an official offer to Manchester City for Manuel Akanji, with negotiations between the two clubs having now begun.

It is further claimed that the Switzerland international defender’s representative will travel to Istanbul this week in order to meet with Galatasaray bosses, while a separate report has backed up an element of these claims.

Fabrizio Romano reports that Galatasaray have approached City for Akanji as a potential target at centre-back this summer, and have also spoken to the player’s agent, with a decision left up to the player – who has not made any final choice as of yet.

What happens next will depend heavily on Manuel Akanji’s own stance. As things stand, Manchester City have not been actively seeking his departure, but with Vitor Reis on loan and John Stones reaffirming his commitment, Guardiola still has multiple options in the position.

Should Akanji push for the exit himself, Manchester City could be forced into a decision, balancing squad stability against a player’s wishes. If he does move on, City are unlikely to seek out further defensive reinforcements before the window closes.

For Galatasaray, however, this represents a significant opportunity to land an experienced UEFA Champions League-winning defender, provided they can reach an agreement with both the player and Manchester City.