Manuel Akanji to leave Manchester City on loan agreement | OneFootball

Manchester City are edging closer towards the possibility of offloading Manuel Akanji during the final hours of the summer transfer window, it is being reported.

The Switzerland international has been at the centre of increasing speculation in recent weeks, with several clubs across Europe monitoring his availability. Earlier this month, reports linked Galatasaray and AC Milan with a potential move, along with Crystal Palace.

With Akanji having played a significant role in City’s treble-winning season just two years ago, questions have surrounded the defender’s standing under Pep Guardiola amid the club’s pursuit of greater squad depth.

The arrivals of younger talents such as Vitor Reis and Abdukodir Khusanov have also increased competition in central defence, and there had been an expectation that one of the existing senior centre-backs could be moved on.

Previous claims indicated that Akanji was targeting a move to another Premier League club in order to remain in England, but his desire to play Champions League football appears to have kept him open to offers abroad.

Now, according to initial information from journalist Fabrizio Romano, Inter had sent a loan proposal to Manchester City for the services of Manuel Akanji with talks underway between the two clubs over finding an agreement.

From the side of the Switzerland international, it had further been revealed that the defender has already said yes to the possibility of joining the Italian giants.

Follow-up reporting from Fabrizio Romano then revealed that the two clubs involved had reached an agreement on a €2 million loan fee, with a €15 million buy option clause embedded into the deal.

In the case of the buy option, it is explained that such a deal would only become mandatory under ‘difficult’ conditions. For now, Akanji is set for a medical with the Italian club having already personally agreed to the move.

Should the deal go through, Inter will gain a highly experienced defender who has already proven himself in both the Premier League and the Champions League, adding to their depth as they look to compete at the highest level this season.

For Manchester City, Akanji’s departure would mark a notable defensive change, especially considering his integral role across the 2022/23 campaign. City will not look to replace Akanji immediately, relying on Ruben Dias, John Stones, Nathan Ake, Josko Gvardiol, and Khusanov to cover central defensive duties.

With the transfer window now entering its closing moments, Akanji’s exit could prove to be one of City’s most significant late moves, shaping the balance of Pep Guardiola’s backline at a difficult time in terms of recent results.