MANCHESTER CITY will tell rivals Chelsea to forget about re-signing centre-back Nathan Ake on the cheap this summer.
Thomas Tuchel is targeting the Dutch international as he looks to re-build his defence at Stamford Bridge for the new season.
However the champions have no plans to sell the former Bournemouth defender who only joined them two years ago in a £40million deal.
Ake was on the books of Chelsea for five years but played just a handful of games in a blue shirt, regularly being 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 it would take at least that kind of money to persuade City to sell Ake to one of their big rivals.
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Even then, Man City would want a replacement lined up before they pushed the button on a deal with the West London club.
Selling Ake would leave them with Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte and John Stones – which would not be considered enough options for the season ahead.
Chelsea have also expressed interest in signing City duo Raheem Sterling and Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Sterling, 27, is rumoured to be nearing a move to Chelsea with the bookies having suspended betting on the deal happening.
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He may not be the only winger heading to Stamford Bridge as the club battle Arsenal and Barcelona for Leeds attacker Raphinha's signature.
An out-and-out striker could also be needed as Romelu Lukaku has returned to Inter Milan.
Chelsea have also been linked with defenders Gleison Bremer and Matthijs de Ligt.
Tuchel is looking to overhaul his side this summer following the takeover of the club by Todd Boehly.
Transfers could head in a new direction now Petr Cech and Marina Granovskaia have departed the club.
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