MANCHESTER City are "interested in rivalling Chelsea" to sign Cherries star Nathan Ake in January, according to Sky Sports.

The report however claims Chelsea are in "pole position" in an attempt to re-capture the 24-year-old.

Sky are reporting Frank Lampard’s side have a £40million buy-back clause from when Cherries signed the defender from Stamford Bridge, for a then club record £20million in 2017.

Ake came up through the youth ranks at Chelsea, the Dutchman having signed from Feyenoord as a teenager.

But the report states City “want to sign Ake if they can next month” having not replaced former skipper Vincent Kompany and with Aymeric Laporte ruled out through injury.

Speaking to the Daily Echo in October, Cherries boss Eddie Howe reiterated Ake was part of the club’s “long-term plan”.

The manager said: “Of course, he is going to have admirers from other clubs, I think that goes with the territory at this level.

“It’s part of the modern-day Premier League player that, if you do well, your media attention increases and you have to deal with that.

“That’s another tick in the box for Nath because he has dealt with all that. It’s never affected him, all the media talk and transfer speculation.

“The biggest compliment I can give Nathan is in his conduct, his professionalism and his leadership.

“I can’t speak highly enough of him.

“The way he conducts himself. He does it with very minimal fuss, he goes about his work but is determined to improve.”

Defender Ake limped off during Saturday’s 3-0 defeat to Liverpool with a hamstring problem.

He is this week set to be assessed.