In the past few weeks, reports from Germany have been naming Arsenal as one of the contenders to sign Borussia Dortmund defender Manuel Akanji.
Since his contract with the Bundesliga side expires in 2023, his rejection of a new deal has been making his club worried about losing him for free next year, so a summer move started sounding very likely.
It was first claimed Arsenal had ‘put out feelers’ to sign Akanji, and then said he was ‘considering’ a move to the Premier League.
It turns out that the defender’s wish not to sign a new contract with Borussia Dortmund has now been confirmed by the club’s future sports director Sebastian Kehl.
Speaking to the Funke media group (via Sky), the official made it clear that there’s no news on the club’s efforts to keep him in the squad for longer.
“Manuel has a contract until 2023, does not want to extend it, and there is currently nothing new.”
“We are in close contact with him and his advisor and are waiting to see what happens now.”
Sky points out that Borussia Dortmund have already been working to replace Akanji in the squad, claiming they must sell him this summer to get a fee for his move.
So if Arsenal are thinking of bidding for him, the time is now.
