Premier League giants Arsenal have reportedly concluded plans to offer Borussia Dortmund a sum of £25 million for Manuel Akanji this summer.
The Gunners were said to have initiated talks with the German League side over the centre-back of Nigerian descent earlier in the year.
Reports from the north London club reveals boss Mikel Arteta has made the Switzerland international his top target to strengthen his defence for competition next campaign.
SunSport reports that Arsenal tried signing the defender last years but their bid was thrown out by the Bundesliga club. They have now launched another bid for the Swiss star.
Dortmund were said to have deliberately stopped the deal from happening after losing Abdou Diallo to Paris Saint-Germain.
Meanwhile, German news outlet FussballTransfers.com revealed that both parties held a concrete discussion but the deal eventually fell apart.
One season down the lane, the player seems to have lost his coach's attention despite his brilliant contributions in his first season in the European country.
He was however in action all through 90 minutes in Dortmund's 4-0 demolition of Schalke last weekend when the Bundesliga became the first league to return amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Akanji is believed to be the right kind of player who could help improve the Gunners defence once the deal pulls through.
The defender already shares the dressing room with Granit Xhaka at the national team level, having won 22 caps.
Before the league was suspended due to deadly coronavirus, Arsenal had conceded 36 goals in the Premier League alone as they rank ninth with nine more matches left to play.
Dortmund paid £15m for Akanji in January 2018 after he helped Basel win two Super League titles and a Swiss Cup. The 6ft 1ins ace is under contract until 2022.
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