Manchester City centre-back Nathan Ake has emerged as a transfer target for Inter Milan, according to a report.
The 27-year-old has not been able to nail down a regular starting role in Pep Guardiola's side since joining from Bournemouth for a £40m fee in the summer of 2020.
Ake has been forced to compete with John Stones, Aymeric Laporte and Ruben Dias for starts at the Etihad Stadium, and the arrival of Manuel Akanji only added to the fight for centre-back places.
With Laporte struggling to overcome a knee injury at the start of the season, Ake has started four top-flight matches for the Premier League champions, including Sunday's 6-3 win over Manchester United.
The Netherlands international remains under contract at the Etihad until the end of the 2024-25 season, but he is now being tipped to seek pastures new in search of regular starts.
© Reuters
According to Inter Live, Simone Inzaghi's side have taken a liking to Ake, who could come in as a direct replacement for compatriot Stefan de Vrij.
The Dutchman is out of contract at the end of the current season, and Inter are supposedly not against letting him leave as a free agent amid concern over his declining performances.
As a result, the Nerazzurri are said to have identified Ake as an ideal replacement, and Man City would be after a fee of €25m (£21.8m) to €30m (£26.2m) to sanction a sale.
Given their volatile financial situation, the report adds that Inter would be keen to strike a loan deal with City for the centre-back including an option or obligation to buy in 2023.
Ake has four goals to boast from 47 appearances in a Man City shirt since joining the club two years ago, and he has won two Premier League titles and one EFL Cup under Guardiola.
© Reuters
Chelsea were tipped to bring their former youth product back to Stamford Bridge in the summer, but a move did not materialise and Ake remained at the Etihad Stadium.
De Vrij is not the only centre-back who could leave Inter on a free transfer next year, as Milan Skriniar has also entered the final months of his deal with the Nerazzurri.
While Inter would be willing to cut De Vrij from the ranks, the Serie A giants are supposedly attempting to renew Skriniar's deal after Paris Saint-Germain tried and failed to sign him in the summer.
However, the task of agreeing fresh terms with the Slovakia international is understood to be a complicated one, and Man City have also been credited with an interest in signing him as a free agent.
Skriniar can negotiate a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs from January, but there is currently nothing to suggest that City and Inter could strike a swap deal involving the 27-year-old and Ake.
Ben Knapton
