Man City have added the Bournemouth defender to their wishlist.
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According to a report from The Daily Mail, Manchester City are reportedly interested in signing Bournemouth defender Nathan Ake, with his boyhood club, Chelsea alone standing in their way. The Dutch centre-back joined the Vitality stadium in 2017 permanently after a short loan stint. However, the report also adds that the Blues might have a buy-back clause of worth £20m to bring him back to Stamford Bridge.
City are also said to have monitored Ake throughout the season and could make a move in the upcoming transfer window. The Citizens have also enlisted some names like Kalidou Koulibaly and Milan Skriniar to strengthen their defence, which has been a debacle for them this term.
Ake is currently valued at no less than £40m, but a drop in price could be on the cards as the Cherries pose a threat of relegation.
The Dutch centre-back has stood tall despite Cherrie’s poor form in the Premier League this season, making 25 appearances with 2 goals and an assist to his name. He also showed his versatility to play as a midfielder and a left-back apart from his centre-back position. It is the second straight season Ake has enjoyed some brilliant form for the Cherries, which also saw him receive getting called up the Netherlands senior team – 13 caps so far. The former Blues youth product had spent loan spells at Reading and Watford before moving to the Vitality stadium.
City were deprived of enough quality and leadership in the defence since the departure of Vincent Kompany last summer. Hence the burden was totally on the young defenders Aymeric and John Stones, but both failed to impress, with the former one missing the entirety of the season due to injury. Nicolas Otamendi was also erratic, and the makeshift role for Fernandinho never suited him, which ultimately led to a string of unexpected defeats.
Manchester City are also interested to bring Jack Grealish. More about you can read here.
Kouliabally has been chosen as the prime candidate to reinforce the defence, with reports claiming that City are close to signing the Napoli centre-back. However, his age factor makes him a futile option for the club’s long term future, and at the same time, the Senegalese will swallow up a large sum of money for the Sky Blues. Ake will be a wise solution if City are planning to buy someone not only for instant success but also for the future. Also, the experience he gained in the English top-flight would help him fit into the City’s squad.
Pep Guardiola’s side suffered a huge defeat at the hands of Frank Lampard’s Chelsea as City’s lacklustre defence was at it once again.
