Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe has denied that clubs have made contact about signing defender Nathan Ake.

The Dutch international has been interesting Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham, among other teams.

Asked about Ake ahead of hosting the Blues at home tomorrow evening, Howe was adamant that they had not been approached about the player:

“We love working with him and we think he has got outstanding attributes. He’s getting better and better in his position.”

“The speculation, as it has been all January for us, has been purely that, as with all our players. We’ve had no contact from any other club, so it’s business as usual.”

Chelsea sold the centre-back to the Cherries for £20m in July 2017 but the London club reportedly have first refusal to re-sign the Dutchman.

There has been talk that Maurizio Sarri’s side were prepared to pay £40m to bring the player back to Stamford Bridge.

With captain Gary Cahill set to depart the club in the summer, the Blues will have just three senior centre-halves in the squad, leaving at least one space open for a new defender.

Ake has made 76 appearances for Bournemouth during his 18 months at the Vitality Stadium and has become a regular in the Netherlands senior squad under manager Ronald Koeman.