Report: City interested in other defenders despite anticipated Ake buy

Manchester City might not be done recruiting defenders this summer if Nathan Ake completes his anticipated £40-million transfer from Bournemouth.

The Beswick club retains an interest in Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly and Villarreal's Pau Torres, sources told ESPN's Rob Dawson, which raises further questions about the futures of John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi at the Etihad Stadium.

City should expect competition from Manchester United if they attempt to sign Koulibaly, who Napoli apparently value at €90 million. The 29-year-old concluded his sixth season in Italian football this past weekend, making 25 Serie A appearances as his side finished in seventh.

Both City and United are also reportedly eyeing Torres, who produced a breakout 2019-20 season in La Liga. The 23-year-old Spanish international would want assurances of regular first-team football after missing just four league matches this past campaign due to injury or suspension.

Aymeric Laporte and teenager Eric Garcia emerged as the first-choice central defensive pairing for Pep Guardiola following the resumption of English football. Consequently, Stones started two matches and Otamendi started four throughout the rest of the domestic season.

Guardiola, who previously defended Stones throughout the 26-year-old's series of high-profile errors, said last month the Englishman could soon be on his way out. Stones has been linked with switches to Arsenal and Everton, his former side.

"What I want is the best for him. We'll speak at the end of the season about what is going to happen," Guardiola said.