Manuel Akanji has got the papers talking after admitting that Manchester United have always been his ‘dream club’.
The Borussia Dortmund defender has been a rock at the back for the Germans this season. Having moved to the German club in a £19 million move from Basel back in January 2018, the Swiss international has quickly become a fan favourite.
This season, he has made 23 appearances and has scored one, despite a persisting problem with his hip. Only 23 years of age at the moment, Akanji still has a long way to go in football but is a quality player. United are in need of a center back, and Akanji can be compared to Rio Ferdinand, a Red Devils legend, considering his style as a ball playing center back.
Akanji is also very versatile. Despite being most comfortable at center back, his pace allows him to play at left-back and right-back, which he has done in the past to some distinction.
Akanji has, on several occasions, stated that Manchester United were his boyhood club. However, last year, admitted that he stopped following the club while Jose Mourinho was at the helm because he didn’t like their style of play.
Speaking in an interview to German newspaper WAZ, Akanji said: “It’s true that from an early age I was a fan of Manchester United.
“But at the moment I’m not really looking at the games because I do not like the way they play under Jose Mourinho. I have no idea why [they play like that], I’m not in training. At the moment I am very happy in Dortmund.”
Now though, following Mourinho’s departure and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s arrival, the rumors have resurfaced. Akanji is once again being linked with a switch to Old Trafford. According to this week’s edition of German magazine ‘SportBild‘, the defender remains interested in the prospect of moving to the Theatre of Dreams.
The magazine did not state that Manchester United were interested in signing him but did point out that his contract with Dortmund expires in 2022. Given the fact that he still has three years to go on his current deal with the Germans, his asking price is likely to be pretty hefty. It is unlikely that the club are going to spend big on a player they hold moderate interest in.
