Who is Manuel Akanji, the Liverpool transfer target impressing for Basel?

Liverpool may face competition from Borussia Dortmund for the defender's signature

Liverpool are monitoring Basel's young defender Manuel Akanji, though may face competition from Borussia Dortmund.

Akanji is 22-year-old, 6ft 1in centre-half who is highly-rated in his native Switzerland and under contract with the country’s most successful club until 2021.

Dortmund are understood to be keen on signing Akanji in the forthcoming January transfer window, while Liverpool are more open to the idea of a summer move.

Background

Akanji began his senior career at Winterthur, a club based near Zurich, and after impressing in Switzerland’s second division during the 2014-15 season, he secured a move to Basel.

The youngster forced his way into Urs Fischer’s first team a few months later, making 12 appearances in total before his progress was curtailed in March 2016 by a cruciate knee ligament injury.

The setback kept Akanji on the sidelines for the remainder of the year, meaning he missed Basel’s 2016-17 Champions League group stage encounters with Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain.

Eventually, in February, he returned and was a regular in the heart of Fischer’s defence as Basel secured their eighth consecutive Swiss league title.

How is he doing this season?

Raphael Wicky replaced Fischer as Basel’s manager during the summer but Akanji has retained his status as a first-team regular, appearing in all 28 matches so far this season, starting all but one.

In June, he made his international debut for Switzerland against the Faroe Islands and most recently played in both legs of his country’s World Cup play-off against Northern Ireland.

What’s more, Akanji was named the Rookie of the Year at the Swiss Football Awards in August, following in the footsteps of his highly-rated team-mate Breel Embolo.

When asked about his ambitions for the future after winning the gong, Akanji told award sponsors Credit Suisse: “I want to stay healthy, go with Switzerland to the World Cup, and someday play for Manchester United.”

Who else is interested and will he be allowed to leave?

Akanji was watched by Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc during Basel’s 1-0 Champions League victory over Manchester United last month.

RB Leipzig, another Bundesliga club who have recent experience of transfer tussles with Liverpool, have also been linked with the young defender.

Basel are thought to want to keep Akanji on their books until at least the end of the season.

Marcel Streller, Basel’s sporting director, has already suggested publicly that Akanji would be allowed to leave for the right price.

“We'll receive [offers], I am sure of that,” he told Blick earlier this month. “I see which scouts attend our Champions League matches. If we'll receive a concrete offer, we must sit down with him and his agent to see what's best for Manu.”