Nathan Ake attracting Inter and AC Milan interest as Manchester City exit looms | OneFootball

Manchester City’s Nathan Ake has emerged as a prime summer transfer target for AC Milan and Inter Milan, according to a new report.

Under sporting director Hugo Viana, Manchester City have strengthened their defence in recent transfer windows – increasing the depth and flexibility of Pep Guardiola‘s squad. Ake continues to be a reliable choice within that structure, approaching the end of his sixth season at the Etihad Stadium since joining from Bournemouth.

His experience playing as both a centre-back and a left-back has allowed Guardiola to adjust his tactical shape as warranted in games by judging the opposition and the options at his disposal. This has proved useful in games that require solid defensive control and positional discipline.

However, due to increased defensive depth, opportunities have been divided throughout the whole team. Nico O’Reilly and Rayan Ait-Nouri have dominated at left-back, with Ruben Dias, Marc Guehi and Abdukodir Khusanov sharing the workload at centre-half in recent months.

Ake’s struggles at Man City this season

This season, Ake has made 26 appearances for the Blues in all competitions but roughly only half of them have been as a starter. The competition for a starting spot has gotten tougher due to City’s evolving squad.

This situation has limited Ake’s streak of consecutive starts. Even so, his performances have remained consistent. City’s displays have needed and highlighted constant tactical adjustments – and defensive flexibility has been a key aspect of balancing their attacking prowess and structural framework.

In that light, the four-time Premier League winner’s profile – calm in possession, tactically intelligent and defensively reliable – has continued to be useful in the system.

Inter and AC Milan possible exit route for Ake

Interest from European clubs has now added a new dimension to Ake’s club situation. Sources close to the agents’ industry have informed Caught Offside that both AC Milan and Inter are considering moves for the Dutch international in the summer transfer window.

The fact that Ake can play in multiple positions in defence and has experience in different tactical systems is an important factor in asserting why the Italian giant duo are interested in securing his services.

AC Milan are interested in recruiting experienced defenders who can make an immediate difference – especially in Europe. Inter Milan, however, value Ake’s versatility – giving them depth and tactical flexibility during a busy schedule.

Ake’s current deal at Manchester City runs till June 2027 and there are no indications that he will leave at the end of this season. However, his long-term role at the Etihad Stadium is likely to be a subject of debate, especially following the January arrival of Guehi.

From City’s perspective, players like Ake are crucial for having a balanced squad and to compete in all competitions over the course of a strenuous campaign. However, when top European clubs show interest, both sporting and squad management factors inevitably come into play.

As the summer transfer window nears, Ake’s situation highlights a familiar issue at Manchester City – an effective squad player receiving interest from other clubs while still being part of a tactical system that emphasises flexibility.

Whether the interest from European clubs develops into formal negotiations will likely depend on how both the player and the club assess his role within Guardiola’s changing tactical structure and Manchester City’s evolving squad.