Manchester City have opened talks with Bournemouth for Nathan Ake.

The Athletic reports City are in talks with Bournemouth over a deal to sign Ake when the transfer window reopens.

Pep Guardiola is desperate to strengthen his options at the back having lost Vincent Kompany last year and seen Liverpool run away with the title this season.

He also has concerns over John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi, while a serious injury to Aymeric Laporte coincided with a poor spell of form earlier in the campaign.

Guardiola is determined to revamp his central defence, with Ake emerging as a realistic target after being watched by City scouts for more than six months.