By 90min | Created at 2025-03-23 14:29:30 | Updated at 2025-03-25 12:47:01
1 day ago
Manchester City centre-back Manuel Akanji has been offered to Real Madrid as part of the Premier League side's plans to rebuild the squad this summer, a report has revealed.
City have fallen well short of expectations this season, sitting fifth in the Premier League standings and a whopping 22 points behind leaders Liverpool, while they were dumped out of the Champions League at the play-off stage following a defeat to Madrid.
Manager Pep Guardiola has publicly warned a number of his ageing players that they will be sold this summer as part of a huge squad overhaul which has already begun. The January transfer window saw centre-backs Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis join for a combined £63m, while midfielder Nico Gonzalez and forward Omar Marmoush also arrived for £50m and £59m respectively.
With Akanji entering the final two years of his contract, he is likely to be among those available for sale and MARCA state he has been offered to Real Madrid.
Intermediaries working on behalf of City are working hard to try and find new homes for a whole host of players. Kevin De Bruyne, Ederson, Jack Grealish, Mateo Kovacic and Nathan Ake are all named as potential casualties alongside Akanji.
It is said that Madrid were surprised to be given the chance to sign Akanji but, as he approaches his 30th birthday, the Switzerland international is not believed to be seen as a viable transfer target.
Madrid want younger players who can play integral roles in the squad for the next decade and are not interested in older players like Akanji, whose fitness history only adds to the concerns about his signing.
Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold is among Madrid's key summer targets and there is confidence at the Santiago Bernabeu that a deal for the Englishman is all but wrapped up.
