Nathan Ake has just made Man City's transfer conundrum easier

Manchester City have promised more summer transfer arrivals after Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez, but some may have to leave to accommodate any more signings.

City's squad stands at 21 after those two striker signings, plus a talented group of youngsters from the academy. Pep Guardiola opted for a smaller squad than previous years for 2021/22, and got the competitive atmosphere he desired with two or three players capable of playing in each position.

Maybe the thinnest options have come at left-back, however, with no natural option to nail down the spot. Joao Cancelo has proven to be world class on that side, but is the first choice when Kyle Walker has been missing on the right. Behind him, Aleks Zinchenko and Nathan Ake have shared responsibility, but both would prefer to be playing in other positions.

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Both Ake and Zinchenko stepped up in the run-in as City won the Premier League while other defenders were injured. They proved to Guardiola they still have a role to play at City, but also showed potential suitors that they would be worthwhile summer signings if regular football can be offered.

City fans are keen not to lose Zinchenko, who has shown his quality on and off the pitch every season, but it's understandable that he would be in demand — and also that he would want assurances of regular football.

The same goes with Ake, who has waited patiently for his chance in his two years at the Etihad, showing improvements year on year. However, while Zinchenko has a clear path to the left-back spot — especially if Kyle Walker departs on the right in the coming years — then Ake's first team prospects are harder to plot.

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