Nathan Ake breaks silence on Man City to Chelsea transfer interest

Nathan Ake insists he is fully focussed on earning his place for Manchester City this season after a summer that saw him linked with Chelsea for weeks.

Ake has struggled to hold down a starting spot for City, mainly due to the presence of Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte and John Stones at centre-back, while Joao Cancelo and Aleks Zinchenko were ahead of him in the left-back ranks. Zinchenko will complete a move to Arsenal soon, perhaps giving Ake some more opportunities at full-back, but Chelsea were interested in signing him to offer the central minutes he desires.

With little need to sell, City set a £50m asking price on the Dutchman, and insisted they would need a replacement before the transfer deadline. If both criteria couldn't be met, Ake would stay at City, and that will be the case after Chelsea wouldn't pay the £50m.

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Ake started City's opening pre-season friendly in Houston on Wednesday as John Stones didn't travel to the US as he doesn't meet the country's entry requirements, and Aymeric Laporte is also back in Manchester with an injury. Ruben Dias has travelled, but illness kept him out of the Club America victory.

That could open an opportunity for Ake to stake an early claim for a starting spot this season, and he revealed to reporters at NRG Park on Wednesday night that he paid little attention to the speculation regarding his future in recent weeks.

"I'm very happy to be at the club, 100 per cent focussed on the club. I try and improve and make sure I get minutes," he said, insisting the speculation did not turn his head away from City.

"It was all in the holiday period anyway when I arrive at the club I was very