Manchester City receives offer from Crystal Palace to sign defender Manuel Akanji

Crystal Palace has submitted an official bid to sign Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji, according to The Sun. The proposal, valued at €15 million, could see the 30-year-old Swiss international leave the Etihad Stadium after falling out of Pep Guardiola’s plans this season.

Crystal Palace leads race despite Turkish interest

Akanji had previously attracted attention from Galatasaray and was linked to Fenerbahçe, but neither Turkish club formalized their interest. Crystal Palace, however, has taken concrete steps and is now in pole position to secure the defender.

Manchester City willing to negotiate

City are not expected to block Akanji’s departure. Guardiola has plenty of defensive options — Rúben Dias, John Stones, Nathan Aké, and Khusanov, along with versatile full-backs and midfielders who can adapt to the backline.

In the first two Premier League matches this season, Dias and Stones were the starting pair, with Akanji left unused, signaling a reduced role for the Swiss defender.

Akanji’s record at Manchester City

Since arriving from Borussia Dortmund in 2022, Akanji has made 136 appearances, scoring five goals. During his time at City, he has lifted major trophies, including two Premier League titles, the Champions League, and the Club World Cup.

Last season, the Swiss international featured 40 times across all competitions, but his importance has since diminished in Guardiola’s rotation.