Manchester City have held talks with Bournemouth about signing Nathan Ake this summer, Sky Sports reported.
Discussions over the defender are at an early stage and there are a number of other clubs understood to be monitoring the situation.
He is contracted to Bournemouth until 2022, but their likely relegation from the Premier League this season means they would be resigned to losing one of their most highly-regarded and sought-after players.
Manchester City have been linked with several centre-backs since the departure of Vincent Kompany at the end of last season. They missed out to rivals United on Harry Maguire last summer and have consistently been linked with Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly.
The 25-year-old first joined Bournemouth on loan in June 2016 before being recalled by Chelsea six months later.
He made the move to the south coast permanent in June 2017 for a club-record fee of £20m.Ake has been capped 13 times by the Netherlands.