Manchester City are 'close' to agreeing a deal for Bournemouth defender Nathan Ake for a fee in the region of £35m.
After having their Champions League ban completely overturned, City are preparing a summer of spending ahead of their attempts to regain the Premier League title next season.
The attacking quality of Pep Guardiola's side has never been in doubt, but the Citizens have struggled defensively throughout the campaign following Vincent Kompany's retirement and the injury to Aymeric Laporte during the early stages of the season.
According to the Guardian, City intend to address their defensive issues by recruiting Bournemouth's Ake in a £35m deal, which is now 'close'.
The 25-year-old joined the Cherries from Chelsea for £20m in 2017, and has consistently been one of their standout performers, despite the struggles that Bournemouth have endured this season.
Ake's deal at the Vitality Stadium runs until 2022, but there is an acceptance at the club that he will depart in the summer.
Bournemouth are currently all but consigned to the Championship after a disappointing season, sitting three points from safety with one game left to play. They will have their relegation confirmed if Watford pick up a point in either of their two remaining fixtures.
Ake has frequently been linked with a return to Chelsea - the club he spent six years with prior to his 2017 move to Bournemouth.
The Blues had a £40m buy-back clause in the defender's contract as part of the deal that saw him move to the south coast, which was reported to still be active in the upcoming summer transfer window.
Ake initially joined Bournemouth on loan in 2016, before making the switch permanent in 2017, steadily establishing himself as a figure of consistency for Eddie Howe's side.
Bournemouth fans may have already seen the last of Ake, with the Dutch international poised to miss the rest of the season after hobbling off against Leicester.
Source : 90min