Man City open to selling defender as Pep Guardiola seeks to trim squad

Toby Coxon

Man City open to selling defender as Pep Guardiola seeks to trim squad image

Galatasaray have launched a bold approach for Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji.

 The Premier League champions are reportedly open to a sale as manager Pep Guardiola looks to streamline his squad.

According to Sky Sports and other reports, the Turkish giants have made contact with both City and Akanji's representatives to discuss a potential move.

Akanji, 30, has been a key figure in City's recent successes since joining from Borussia Dortmund in 2022.

However, his future at the Etihad has been the subject of growing speculation, particularly after he was an unused substitute in the recent Premier League opener against Wolves.

With City possessing a wealth of central defensive options, including Ruben Dias, John Stones, Josko Gvardiol, and Nathan Ake, Guardiola is keen to offload players to reduce the size of his squad.

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For Galatasaray, the pursuit of Akanji is a statement of intent.

The Turkish side is preparing for a new Champions League campaign and is targeting experienced, top-level defenders to strengthen their backline.

Akanji's Champions League-winning experience and his versatility, which allows him to play as a centre-back or a full-back, make him an ideal candidate.

While negotiations are underway between the two clubs and the player's representatives, an agreement is not yet in place.

The final decision is expected to rest with Akanji, who has reportedly not made a final decision on his future.

Manuel Akanji

His contract at the Etihad runs until 2027, but a move to Istanbul could offer him a fresh challenge and the promise of a starting role.

The situation is a fascinating one for all parties.

For Manchester City, the sale of Akanji would be a way to recoup a significant fee for a player they signed for just £15m and to trim their squad.

For Galatasaray, it would be a major coup.

And for Akanji, it's a decision that will define the next chapter of his career.

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Toby Coxon

Toby joined The Sporting News in 2025 after completing a degree in Multimedia Sports Journalism. He has previous experience writing for online and print publications including VAVEL, Breaking Media and The Non-League Paper. He also has experience working within football clubs in previous roles at Curzon Ashton FC and Bradford City AFC.