Nathan Ake

Ake ignoring talk of £40m Man Utd move

Bournemouth defender Nathan Ake is refusing to read too much into talk of a possible £40 million ($53m) move to Manchester United.

The Red Devils remain in the market for centre-half additions after failing to bolster their ranks in that department over the summer.

Harry Maguire and Toby Alderweireld were considered to be top targets during the most recent window, but they ended up staying at Leicester City and Tottenham respectively.

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Various other options for the Red Devils are now being mooted, including Fiorentina star Nikola Milenkovic – who Jose Mourinho caught in action during a recent outing for Serbia.

Former Chelsea defender Ake is another of those said to be on United’s radar, with the 23-year-old ticking a number of boxes.

He boasts plenty of Premier League experience, is a senior international with the Netherlands and would be a long-term option to slip into the fold at Old Trafford.

Ake is, however, paying little attention to the transfer talk surrounding him heading towards January, with a long-term contract penned at Bournemouth following a permanent move to the Cherries in 2017.

"I’ve seen it pass by but of course it’s rumours," the versatile Dutchman told Voetbal International.

"At the moment I play at Bournemouth and that is going well, so I focus on that.

"This does not say much about my status yet. They are rumours on the internet and as long as I do not hear anything myself, I will not go into that."

Ake joined Bournemouth for a club-record £20m ($26m) fee ahead of the 2017-18 season, having impressed during a loan spell in the previous campaign.

He was an ever-present for the Cherries in the Premier League last term and has figured in all eight of their top-flight fixtures this year – netting his first goal of the campaign in a 2-2 draw with Everton.

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