- Palace eye City’s Akanji
- Pep Guardiola wants smaller squad
- Could replace Guehi at Selhurst Park
According to a number of outlets including BBC Sport, Palace have made an approach to sign Akanji from City. Guardiola is keen to reduce the size of his playing squad and could be willing to sanction an exit for Akanji, who is also reportedly wanted by Turkish giants غلطة سراي.
It’s been a difficult summer for Palace, who were fighting with UEFA over their demotion from the الدوري الأوروبي الى دوري المؤتمرات, and they could still lose another one of their main talents after Eberechi Eze departed for أرسنال. إنجلترا international Guehi has been the subject of interest from الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز أبطال ليفربول and The Independent add Akanji could be an experienced option to arrive at Selhurst Park if their star centre-back were to depart before the end of the summer transfer window.
Akanji arrived at the Etihad Stadium in 2022, helping City win the treble in 2022-23, and has been a solid option for Guardiola throughout his time in Manchester. However, with the likes of Ruben Dias, John Stones, Nathan Ake, Josko Gvardiol and Abdukodir Khusanov already options at centre-back, the سويسرا international could be moved on.
Palace may well have to wait and see if Liverpool firm up their interest in Guehi before pushing ahead with a move. For now, Oliver Glasner will hope he has the former تشيلسي defender available when the Eagles visit Fredrikstad on Thursday in the second leg of their Conference League play-off looking to defend a 1-0 advantage from the first encounter.
