Manchester City are reportedly close to reaching an agreement with Borussia Dortmund over the signing of centre-back Manuel Akanji.
The 27-year-old's future with the German giants has been questioned throughout this summer as he has now entered the final 12 months of his contract.
The likes of Manchester United, Arsenal, Juventus and Inter Milan have all been linked with the Switzerland international, with a report last month claiming that he would prefer a move to Old Trafford.
However, The Athletic journalist David Ornstein claims that Man City are now in negotiations with Dortmund over a €17.5m (£14.6m) deal for Akanji, and there is optimism from both sides that an agreement can be reached.
The Premier League champions have made four signings so far this summer, with Erling Braut Haaland, Kalvin Phillips, Stefan Ortega and Sergio Gomez all arriving at the Etihad Stadium.
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Manager Pep Guardiola has refused to rule out making more signings before Thursday's transfer deadline, telling reporters at a press conference on Tuesday: "I don't know what will happen."
City have four first-team central defenders on their books at present, although both Aymeric Laporte and Nathan Ake are ruled out with injuries.
Laporte is yet to play for the Citizens this season after undergoing knee surgery over the summer, while Ake was withdrawn in the first half of their 3-3 draw against Newcastle United with a groin problem.
Academy graduate Luke Mbete is also sidelined after sustaining concussion in a friendly against Barcelona, while Ruben Dias and John Stones were both fit to start at play the full 90 minutes in City's 4-2 Premier League win over Crystal Palace last weekend.
Akanji, meanwhile, has not made a single appearance for Dortmund so far this term amid uncertainty over his future, with the Bundesliga club allegedly willing to listen to offers for the centre-back.
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Akanji began his professional career in his native Switzerland and spent time with both Winterthur and Basel, before joining Dortmund in the summer of 2018.
The 6ft 2in defender was a first-team regular in each of the last four seasons at Westfalenstadion and has played in 158 games for BVB across all competitions, including 36 appearances last season.
However, the arrivals of Niklas Sule and Nico Schlotterbeck have seen Akanji fall down the pecking order, while experienced defender Mats Hummels is also preferred ahead of him by head coach Edin Terzic.
Meanwhile, Guardiola has stated again that Barcelona-linked Bernardo Silva will be staying at Man City, telling reporters: "With Bernardo I said many times how important he is for us. Just one, two days finally the window will be over and everyone will be focused on what we have to do."
The Citizens will be looking to claim their fourth Premier League victory in five matches this season when they welcome newly-promoted Nottingham Forest to the Etihad on Wednesday night.
Oliver Thomas
