Nathan Ake has no intention of leaving Manchester City, and has declared his ambitions to play a bigger role for the club next season.
Ake, 27, joined City in 2020 from relegated Bournemouth for £40m, but struggled with injuries in his first season and played just 13 times. In the campaign just gone, Ake enjoyed more outings for City as centre-back and left-back cover, making 27 appearances — although he is still firmly behind Ruben Dias, John Stones and Aymeric Laporte in the central defensive pecking order.
Towards the end of the season, Ake played an important role in stepping up as Dias was injured and Joao Cancelo was needed at right-back, prompting talk that he could leave the Etihad in the summer in search of more regular game time.
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Reports have linked the Dutch international with a number of clubs, and a reunion with former Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe at Newcastle has been touted. This week, it's been claimed that City would ask for £50m for the defender, which may put Newcastle off.
And now, Ake has confirmed his own position, speaking on international duty and saying he will 'do everything' to play more regularly at City.
He told NOS : "Last season was very unhappy due to injuries, I don't really count that year. This season I was really 100 per cent present and I played more. You notice an improvement in yourself, how you play. I felt good.
Asked if he is aiming to be a regular starter at City, Ake seemingly dismissed talk of a transfer, saying: "I will go into the season with that intention. I will do everything I can to play even more."
Ake started the Netherlands' big win over Belgium in the Nations League last week on the left of a back-three, and will be hoping to keep his place against Wales, Poland and Wales again in the coming week. He has three years left on his City contract, which runs until 2025.
