Leeds United are well on their way towards making their highly anticipated return to the Premier League next season. However, to sustain their status in the top-flight, the Whites will need to make some eye-catching moves in the transfer market this summer.
One such player who could fit the bill is Manuel Akanji, who could emerge as a realistic option for the Championship league leaders after the end of this campaign. And in this article, we will discuss why Leeds must sign the Borussia Dortmund defender next season.
Why Akanji will be a realistic target for Leeds
Akanji was one of Europe’s hottest defensive prospects a couple of years ago, before he joined Borussia Dortmund, in a €21.5 million move from FC Basel. He enjoyed an excellent start to his Bundesliga career, instantly becoming a key component in the Dortmund backline. Fast forward to 2020; however, Akanji has become a liability in the team.
Despite being given a host of opportunities in the first-team, the Swiss international has struggled to provide any sort of solidity in the BVB defence over the past 18 months. His sense of positioning has remained poor, just as much as his marking. As a result, the Black and Yellows notably failed to keep up with Bayern Munich last season, losing the league title by just two points.
This season, coach Lucien Favre has been quick to identify Akanji as the weak link. He has, therefore, frozen him out of the starting lineup, often preferring the defensive trio of Mats Hummels, Lukasz Piszczek and Dan-Axel Zagadou.
It now seems unlikely that Akanji will be able to win back his place in the squad. And with his contract expiring in 2022, Dortmund could look to get rid of the ex-Basel star to make way for a new defender.
Why Leeds should sign Akanji
The Swiss international has already lost a reputation and Leeds United, in that regard, should provide him with the ideal platform for him to revive his career and that too, in arguably the most competitive league in Europe.
From the club’s perspective, Akanji’s arrival at Elland Road will significantly improve the club’s defensive unit that is already in danger of falling apart in the summer.
The Whites are trying hard to secure the services of Ben White permanently but the future of Gaetano Berardi, whose contract expires in the summer, hangs in the balance. Failing to sign White, therefore, will create a massive void in the defensive department and that’s where Akanji could come into the fray.
The Borussia Dortmund defender has gained a lot of experience at the highest level of football, which will be crucial for an otherwise inexperienced squadron of Marcelo Bielsa. His ability to pass the ball out from the back should also add a new dimension to the Leeds United backline.
However, it remains to be seen whether or not the Bundesliga giants will be open to selling Akanji permanently this summer.
