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Premier League rivals monitoring Manchester City star’s situation

By Rohan Sengupta

DORTMUND, GERMANY - APRIL 14: Riyad Mahrez of Manchester City celebrates with team mates Kyle Walker, Rodrigo and Bernardo Silva after scoring their side's first goal during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Second Leg match between Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City at Signal Iduna Park on April 14, 2021 in Dortmund, Germany. Sporting stadiums around Germany remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Friedemann Vogel - Pool/Getty Images)
DORTMUND, GERMANY - APRIL 14: Riyad Mahrez of Manchester City celebrates with team mates Kyle Walker, Rodrigo and Bernardo Silva after scoring their side's first goal during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Second Leg match between Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City at Signal Iduna Park on April 14, 2021 in Dortmund, Germany. Sporting stadiums around Germany remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Friedemann Vogel - Pool/Getty Images) /
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According to the Sun, Manchester City defender Nathan Ake is on the radar of cross-town rivals Manchester United.

Apparently, Manchester United are on the lookout for a centre-back this summer. The Sun report Real Madrid superstar Raphael Varane and Villarreal’s promising defender Pau Torres are high on the Red Devils’ transfer list.

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But United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is a huge fan of Nathan Ake and is believed to be monitoring his situation at the Etihad Stadium.

Nathan Ake, 26, endured a frustrating debut season at Manchester City after joining in a £40m deal from relegated Bournemouth last summer.

The arrival of Ruben Dias from Benfica soon after, combined with John Stones’ revival in form and Ake’s injury problems limited him to only 13 appearances for the Sky Blues.

A recurrent hamstring problem saw the Netherlands international miss a staggering 27 games for the English champions. When the centre-back returned from injury, the Premier League title was effectively wrapped up and the Champions League knockout stages were being played out.

As things stand, following the departure of Eric Garcia on a free transfer to Barcelona, Ake still finds himself behind the likes of Ruben Dias, John Stones and Aymeric Laporte in the defensive pecking order.

The report adds the Dutch centre-back is ‘growing frustrated’ at his lack of regular first-team football at the Etihad Stadium.

An exit after just one season cannot be ruled out, but it is highly unlikely that Manchester City will sell Ake to direct rivals, Manchester United.

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Ole’s United finished second in the Premier League table in the recently-concluded campaign and are aiming to strengthen their squad to bridge the gap between them and City. There’s no point selling a player to direct rivals, especially to a club like United and making them stronger ahead of the new campaign.

If Ake wants out and Manchester City are ready to offload him, Guardiola should offer the Dutch defender—who is already linked with Tottenham Hotspur—in an attempt to bring the price of a deal down to sign one of his primary targets in Harry Kane.

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