Manchester United ‘Very Interested’ In Borussia Dortmund Defender: The Dream Option For Rangnick?

According to SPORTS1’s chief journalist Patrick Berger (via The Sun), Manchester United are keen on signing Borussia Dortmund defender Manuel Akanji in the upcoming transfer window as Ralf Rangnick looks set to add to his options in defence.

With just eighteen months remaining on his present contract at the Signal Iduna Park, the Bundesliga giants want to tie him down to a new long-term deal. However, the Swiss centre-back has reportedly turned down a fresh offer at Dortmund worth €9.5 million per year. If the situation doesn’t change soon, Dortmund might be forced to revive a fee of just €30 million by selling him in summer.

If speculations are to be believed, the sudden announcement of Niklas Sule’s signing from Bayern Munich on a free transfer has caused a massive stir, with Akanji feeling unsettled.

Akanji’s 2021/22 Season In Numbers

Having come through the ranks at Swiss challenge club (the second tier of Swiss football) FC Winterthur, Akanji signed for FC Basel in the summer of 2015. Three seasons later, he signed for Borussia Dortmund for a fee in the region of €21.5 million, and it would be an understatement to say that his growth over the past few years has been impressive. The number sixteen is currently Marco Rose’s first-choice partner for 33-year-old Mats Hummels at the heart of BVB’s defence, so losing him could hurt a significant part of their future plans.

Even this term, the Wiesendangen-born defender has managed to put up some awe-inspiring numbers on the board – averaging 1.4 tackles, 1.7 interceptions, 1.9 clearances, 0.5 blocks, and 6.1 long balls per 90 minutes in the German top-flight (taken over 17 appearances). With qualities like aerial dominance, concentration and tackling, he could be one of the best players in his position in the forthcoming years.

Rangnick’s Dream Option?

Manchester United have been relatively poor in defence all season, conceding thirty-one goals over twenty-three game weeks – three more than bottom-placed Burnley. Raphael Varane has been doing decently ever since he arrived from Real Madrid, but Harry Maguire has shown tremendous inconsistency on numerous occasions to at the back.

Victor Lindelof has done enough to prove that Rangnick could depend on him in the hour of need. Eric Bailly and Phil Jones haven’t got too much game time yet, but one can conclude that they won’t be handed a start until and unless there’s some severe injury crisis.

Aged 26, Manuel Akanji could turn out to be an exciting addition to United’s present squad as it would provide them with quality depth in defence. Although the demands could potentially damage United’s wage structure, signing him might be possible with a few exits in summer.

(Stats from WhoScored)