MANCHESTER CITY will tell rivals Chelsea to forget about re-signing centre-back Nathan Ake cheaply this summer.
Thomas Tuchel takes aim at the Dutch international as he looks to rebuild his defense at Stamford Bridge for the new season.
However, the champions have no plans to sell the former Bournemouth defender who joined them just two years ago in a £40m deal.
Ake was on Chelsea’s books for five years, but played just a handful of games in a blue shirt, being regularly loaned out to the likes of Reading and Watford.
Newcastle made an approach earlier this summer for him, they were quoted a price of around £50m for the 27-year-old.
And it is believed that it would take at least that kind of money to persuade City to sell Ake to one of their biggest rivals.
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Even then, Man City would want a replacement lined up before pushing the button on a deal with the West London club.
Selling Ake would leave them with Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte and John Stones, who would not be considered enough options for next season.
Chelsea have also expressed interest in signing City duo Raheem Sterling and Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Sterling, 27, is rumored to be on the verge of a move to Chelsea as bookmakers have suspended bets on the deal.
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He may not be the only winger heading to Stamford Bridge as the club battle Arsenal and Barcelona for the signing of Leeds attacker Raphinha.
An all-out striker might also be needed, as Romelu Lukaku has returned to Inter Milan.
Defense is also an area Chelsea want to strengthen with Gleison Bremer and Matthijs de Ligt linked.
Tuchel is looking to renew his squad this summer following the acquisition of the club by new owner Todd Boehly.
Transfers could take a new direction now that Petr Cech and Marina Granovskaia have left the club.
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