Southampton are being linked with a move for FC Basel defender Manuel Akanji.
The young centre-back has been earning rave reviews for his performances in Switzerland and according to Blick, an outlet in Akanji’s homeland, Saints are one of the clubs keen to land him in January.
Akanji has been courted by a number of top sides and it seems that Borussia Dortmund are leading the race. Liverpool are also extremely keen in Akanji, while Tottenham Hotspur have also been touted with interest.
The report states that Basel could deem an offer worth €20m as too good to refuse despite their intention to retain Akanji’s services. With Saints in need of a new central defender following the sale of Virgil van Dijk, it would seem as though Akanji fits the bill.
Basel are said to be exploring potential replacements for Akanji, but Saints will need to pursue their apparent interest if they are to fend off the host of competition from elsewhere.
