Nathan Ake transfer saga takes fresh twist as Manchester City hold stance on January sale | OneFootball

Manchester City would like to keep hold of Nathan Ake until the end of the season amid interest in the Netherlands star ahead of January, as per a new report.

Ake has started in just one Premier League game for the Blues since February – a 2-0 win over Everton at the Etihad Stadium in October – with Pep Guardiola favouring a centre-half partnership between Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol since the latter stages of the 2024-25 season.

Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman has sent a word of warning to Ake ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Ake barely playing for Manchester City this term in the backdrop of recurring fitness issues that have derailed the former Bournemouth star from playing regularly in recent years.

Pep Guardiola remains a big fan of Ake, who has played a pivotal role in Manchester City’s domestic and European successes since his arrival to the Etihad Stadium in 2020, particularly en route to the Blues’ premier UEFA Champions League triumph in 2023 as part of a historic treble.

However, Ake needs to address his club situation to stake a serious claim to be included in Netherlands’ World Cup squad, with the January transfer window expected to provide several options for the defender to move clubs.

Manuel Akanji decided to join Inter Milan on a season-long loan in the summer and the Swiss star is reaping the rewards of playing week-in, week-out in the Serie A, with Ake facing a crossroads January as Manchester City enter the transfer market themselves to plug loopholes in Guardiola’s ranks.

City are expected to secure the arrival of Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth in the coming days after club officials – led by sporting director Hugo Viana – held talks with the Cherries and the Ghana international’s representatives to complete a transfer this week.

The Blues could sanction several exits in the mid-season transfer window, though Guardiola will want to keep hold of fringe players who will attract interest but could go on to lend a hand in Manchester City’s aspirations for silverware as the season progresses.

As reported by Jack Gaughan writing for Mail Sport, Manchester City want to keep hold of Ake until the end of the season owing to the centre-back’s experience – as they challenge Arsenal for a fifth Premier League title in six seasons.

The Blues have registered their place in the Carabao Cup semi-final and are closing in on qualification for the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, having come from behind to secure a monumental 2-1 group-stage triumph over Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu earlier this month.

City do not possess great depth in central defence – a key frailty in the first-team squad – as John Stones grapples with recurring fitness setbacks – and Vitor Reis continues to thrive on loan at Girona in Spain, though the Brazilian could be recalled in January should Guardiola want reinforcements in defence.

Ake is likely to leave Manchester City in the summer if not January, with Dias and Gvardiol forming a formidable partnership at the heart of a backline that has shut up shot in recent weeks – as the Blues keep up the pressure on Arsenal at the top of the Premier League.

The report adds that City want to retain Omar Marmoush and Savinho amid interest in the attacking pair, with the latter in particular of continued interest to Tottenham, who failed to sign the 21-year-old Brazilian in the summer.