Manchester United to keep their eye on Bournemouth’s defender,Nathan Ake

Bournemouth defender Nathan Ake is a £30million summer transfer target for Italian giants Napoli as they prepare to cash in on Kalidou Koulibaly.

Ake quit Chelsea to join Bournemouth in a £20million deal at the start of last season.

The 24-year-old has enjoyed another stellar season at Dean Court, having swept the Cherries’ player of the year awards last season.

Now Napoli sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli is earmarking the Dutch international as a summer transfer target for the Partenopei.

It’s understood he has already made contact with the player’s representatives over a potential summer switch.

But the Italian club would face no shortage of rival interest from potential Premier League suitors, including Tottenham and Chelsea; the Blues have a £40million buy-back option on Ake.

Any deal involving Ake heading to Italy seems set to greatly depend on the future of Koulibaly, a situation complicated by United’s interest and current stance.

The Red Devils had made the Senegal centre-back their No.1 defensive transfer target this summer.That was despite suggestions he could cost as much as £80million a world record for a defender.

But Mirror Football understands that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is ready to use that money to instead push to land England starlet Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund.

Sancho, who joined BVB from Manchester City for £8million in 2017, has starred in the Bundesliga this season, and is now one of Europe’s hottest properties.

However, the German side insist that Sancho will not be going anywhere this summer.

“Jadon will play at Dortmund next season and we are definitely planning with him,” said sporting director Michael Zorc earlier this month.

And that could lead United back to Koulibaly, something the Italians are seemingly preparing for.

United’s defence remains in need of an overhaul, while both Marcos Rojo and Eric Bailly are expected to be available for transfer this summer.

If they can’t tempt Dortmund to cash in, then a return for Koulibaly may well be on the cards particularly with another defensive target, Milan Skriniar, happy at Inter.

Napoli’s continued interest in Ake and touching base with his entourage suggests that they are now looking to force the issue.

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