Breaking news: Ralf Ragnick set to sign his gladiator defender today from Dortmund , before hearing anything from Manchester United board .

 Manchester United have made initial

 enquiries about a possible move for

 Borussia Dortmund defender Manuel

 Akanji.

United have been prioritising a defensive

 midfielder and a striker for the summer 

but talks over Swiss international Akanji 

indicate Ralf Rangnick wants a new 

centre back also.

Defender Phil Jones is still hoping 

to leave despite turning down a move to 

Bordeaux last month while Eric Bailly 

remains unhappy at his limited 

playing time.

Question marks have also been 

raised by Rangnick regarding the level

 of Harry Maguire's performances and an 

experienced defender such as Akanji 

would increase competition.

The 26-year-old has 16 months left

 on his contract and is valued at 

£26million by Dortmund who bought

 him from Basel for £15m in 2018.

The German club have offered Akanji a 

new contract worth around £6.7million

 a year but his representatives are understood

 to be pushing for closer to £8.3m in 

wages, around £162,000 a week.

Despite reports in Germany suggesting

 United have made an Sports-mail

 understands United have yet to make

 a formal approach but have been 

made aware of the player's situation

 and his willingness to consider a 

new challenge.

Akanji can play on the left or right 

of a defensive pairing and has played 

28 games for Dortmund this season.

 He has 38 caps for Switzerland and 

was part of their squad that reached 

the European Championship quarter 

finals last summer.

Rangnick knows the defender well 

but other options are under consideration

 too as the United interim manager 

has an input into potential transfer 

targets who are being earmarked for

 the next permanent boss.