Arsenal express interest in Switzerland defender?

Arsenal are reportedly in contact with Borussia Dortmund overthe possible signing of Manuel Akanji during the next transfer window.

The Gunners are expected to include William Saliba in their first-team plans following his loan spell at Saint-Etienne but they are still said to be eyeing another centre-back.

Barcelona's Samuel Umtiti and Reims' Axel Disasi have been linked with the club in recent weeks but Fussball Transfers claims that the north London side are planning a move for Akanji.

It is added that the Gunners initially held talks with Dortmund for the defender in January and they could be prepared to pay as much as £25m to land his services.

Akanji has been with Dortmund since January 2018. He has made 34 appearances in the current campaign and played through the full 90 minutes of the 4-0 league win over Schalke last weekend.

The Swiss is a ball-playing centre-back and he has been successful in delivering more than 90 percent of his passes this term. He has more than two years remaining on his current Dortmund contract.