Report: City close in on agreement for Bournemouth's Ake

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JULY 04: Nathan Ake of Bournemouth during the Premier League match between Manchester United and AFC Bournemouth at Old Trafford on July 04, 2020 in Manchester, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors.
Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth / AFC Bournemouth / Getty

Manchester City are nearing a move for Bournemouth center-back Nathan Ake as Pep Guardiola looks to refresh his squad's defense ahead of next season, The Guardian's Ewan Murray reports.

It is understood City will soon finalize a transfer fee in the neighborhood of £35 million for the 13-time capped Dutch international.

Ake has also been linked Manchester United and a return to Chelsea as the 25-year-old faces an imminent exit from relegation-threatened Bournemouth.

A £20-million signing from Chelsea in 2017, Ake has been one of a scant number of positive contributors to a Cherries side languishing in the drop zone with two matches to play.

Following an unsuccessful defense of the Premier League title, Guardiola is reportedly keen to recruit reinforcements at center-back and left-back.

Both John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi have fallen out of favor, and only recently has Eric Garcia been given an opportunity to pair with Aymeric Laporte.

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