According to a source, Manchester United has made a contract offer worth nearly double what Manuel Akanji is being offered to stay at Borussia Dortmund.
The 26-year-old Akanji might leave the Bundesliga powerhouse this summer. Bayern Munich’s Niklas Sule has already been signed by Dortmund. When his contract in Bavaria expires at the end of the season, he will become a free agent.
This may force Akanji to go, and Manchester United has been linked with a summer move.
In fact, fixing their defensive difficulties could be a primary concern this offseason. Raphael Varane is still adjusting to life in the Premier League, but his class and experience suggest he’ll get there eventually. But, outside from the Frenchman, United’s choices have been disappointing.
Harry Maguire is, without a doubt, having the worst season of his career. On Saturday, his own goal against Tottenham summed up his season perfectly. Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly are in the mix, but none appears to have gained interim manager Ralf Rangnick’s trust.
Rangnick is expected to have a voice in the future of United’s team when he moves into a consultant job at the end of the season, according to the latest report from Germany.
United’s Akanji nearly twice as much as Dortmund’s.
Rangnick is reportedly ‘promising’ a yearly salary of €15 million to join Man Utd, according to Sport Witness (quoting Bild).
This is about equivalent to a weekly salary of £240,000. It’s also a lot more than Dortmund’s rumoured €8 million (£130,000 a week) offer.
According to previous reports from Bild, Akanji might be purchased for roughly £20.8 million. Dortmund wants to extend the Swiss centre-contract, back’s but there has been no progress so far. His current contract is set to expire in 2023.
Dortmund would ‘put Akanji on the market’ if he ‘wants to depart,’ according to Sport Witness (quoting German tabloid Ruhr Nachrichten in mid-February).
Dortmund’s only saving grace may be the level of European football they have to offer. Dortmund will finish in the Bundesliga’s top four, while United is struggling to catch Arsenal in the Premier League’s race for fourth place.
As a result, United’s hopes of a summer transfer may hinge on their next nine games.
