Arsenal are apparently interested in signing Borussia Dortmund defender Manuel Akanji for £25million this summer, despite the financial uncertainty amid the coronavirus crisis.
Dortmund beat Schalke 4-0 in their Bundesliga comeback at the weekend, with Erling Braut Haaland, Julian Brandt and Thorgan Hazard stealing the headlines.
But at the back, there was Akanji, and here, Sportsmail takes a closer look at the man who could be heading to north London.
Manuel Akanji (left), pictured in action against Schalke, has emerged as a target for Arsenal
WHY DO ARSENAL WANT HIM?
To understand why Arsenal failed to make the top four last season, you need only look in the 'goals against' column of the Premier League table.
Manchester City, in first position, 23 goals conceded in 2018-19. Liverpool, second, 22. Chelsea, third, 39. Tottenham, fourth, also 39. Then Arsenal, fifth, 51.
Unai Emery used to chop and change between three and four at the back, which did not help.
But Arsenal are on the lookout for leaders in defence.
Akanji chases down RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner
WOULD HE SUIT ARSENAL?
Both Arsenal and Dortmund like to keep possession and Akanji likes to bring the ball out from the back. He is the modern-day defender who can pass.
One hiccup mind, he is a self-confessed boyhood Manchester United fan.
Akanji enjoyed a steady rise to get to where he is now. He started with Swiss side Winterthur, then moved to Basle, then joined Dortmund.
Would he be against moving to the Premier League? He already speaks English (as well as French and German, while he is said to be working on his Spanish).
The 24-year-old defender already speaks English and is said to be learning a fourth language
HAS HE BEEN AN EVER-PRESENT IN DORTMUND'S DEFENCE?
One tattoo on Akanji's arm, in English, reads: 'Prove them wrong.' So he is a determined sort.
He has been in and out of the side under Lucien Favre this season after suffering a slump.
'I didn't always perform the way I wanted,' Akanji previously told Kicker, admitting his poor form.
But he came back at the weekend against Schalke, showing the swagger of old.
The Dortmund star has a tattoo which reads 'prove them wrong' in English on his left forearm
WHAT IS HIS PERSONALITY LIKE?
Akanji has long believed in himself, as all top players should, though he accepts he can be better.
'I don't want to sound arrogant, but I have faith in my own abilities,' he said in an interview from more than two years ago.
'I have to improve my heading and I still need to learn more tactical aspects in terms of my defensive work.'
HOW LONG HAVE ARSENAL HAD THEIR EYE ON HIM?
Arsenal supposedly looked at Akanji last summer, while they also spoke to Dortmund in January.
But Dortmund were not interested in letting him leave last year after his fellow central defender Abdou Diallo moved to Paris Saint-Germain.
Grant Xhaka knows Akanji well, having starred alongside him at international level for Switzerland.
Akanji tackles Ruben Loftus-Cheek during a game between England and Switzerland in 2018
WHAT ARE HIS KEY STATISTICS?
In 2019-20, Akanji has helped Dortmund keep seven clean sheets in 20 league starts.
His passing accuracy, season by season, is consistently above 90 per cent.
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