The transfer team at Chelsea have, on Monday, opened negotiations with Premier League rivals Manchester City over a potential double transfer swoop.

The first player confirmed as being in the sights of the Blues will come as no surprise, in the form of Raheem Sterling.

With Romelu Lukaku potentially set to be joined by both Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner in departing Stamford Bridge this summer, Thomas Tuchel's attacking ranks look set to be in dire need of reinforcement with a view to next season.

And Sterling, as widely reported over the course of the last week, has been placed atop the wishlist of targets at Stamford Bridge.

The England international, though, is not the only City star understood to be in Chelsea's sights.

The other? Nathan Ake.

The heart of defence is another area of Tuchel's ranks badly lacking in numbers as things stand, on the back of the free agent departures of both Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen.

In turn, both Juventus' Matthijs de Ligt and Sevilla standout Jules Kounde have long been tipped as potential arrivals in west London.

Ake, though, is now understood to be very much in the sights of his former club, who, according to the reliable Matt Law of the Daily Telegraph, have opened direct talks with their counterparts at the Etihad over a double deal for the Dutchman, and Sterling.

It now remains to be seen whether the Premier League champions will be willing to play ball with a direct rival in the English top-flight.

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