Trio of European giants target €35 million Manchester City defender – Player open to exit | OneFootball

Manchester City are reportedly open to offers for Nathan Ake in the coming transfer windows, as the Dutchman commands interest from multiple top European clubs.

Ake’s position in Pep Guardiola’s squad has been a point of quiet intrigue for several months, having moved from being a key figure during Manchester City’s treble-winning campaign to a more rotational role amid fierce competition.

With John Stones, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, and Abdukodir Khusanov all competing for minutes, and the club continuing to assess long-term defensive reinforcements, Nathan Ake’s future has naturally entered the conversation.

Earlier reports this year linked the former Bournemouth defender with interest from Everton, while Crystal Palace were credited with admiration as they prepared for the potential exit of Marc Guehi. Those rumours, combined with questions around Stones’ fitness and longevity, have contributed to uncertainty around the shape of City’s future defensive line.

The club are currently managing a transition phase across multiple areas having undergone plenty of investment over the summer, and centre-back monitoring continues as the squad evolves far beyond its treble core.

According to a new report from CaughtOffside, all of Inter Milan, Juventus, and Crystal Palace are preparing to battle for Manchester City’s Nathan Ake in the upcoming January transfer window.

From the side of the Etihad Stadium club, it is claimed that officials would be open to offers in the €30 million to €35 million range, but are not actively pushing the versatile defender out of their squad.

From the side of Nathan Ake, the Netherlands international is open to a move that would guarantee him more consistent playing time, particularly with the 2026 FIFA World Cup fast approaching.

Should concrete proposals arrive, a January exit could depend heavily on Manchester City’s squad depth and injury status at the time. Pep Guardiola has historically been reluctant to lose key utility players mid-season, and Ake’s versatility makes him difficult to replace.

However, with only 18 months left on his deal by the winter and City studying centre-back options for the next phase of the squad cycle, the Etihad Stadium’s hierarchy may feel this period represents the optimal value point.

For interested clubs, Crystal Palace may see Ake as a Premier League-ready Marc Guehi successor, while Inter and Juventus are both expected to reform their defensive cores heading into 2026.

Manchester City, meanwhile, will continue monitoring contract scenarios and could even revisit talks with Nathan Ake if other defensive exits materialise first. As with most Pep Guardiola-era transfer sagas, timing and squad balance will likely dictate the final outcome.