Transfer News: Chelsea have agreed to a fee with Manchester City for Nathan Ake. (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
According to Football Transfer Tavern (h/t Mirror), Chelsea have agreed to a fee with Manchester City for defender Nathan Ake. The report claims that the fee agreed is £45 million between the two rivals, with personal terms already agreed.
Chelsea’s interest in Ake was well-known. Thomas Tuchel is in dire need of fixing his defensive woes after witnessing the departure of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen earlier this summer. It would appear that Tuchel’s efforts to fix the void is gathering pace.
Ake joined Chelsea Under-18 in 2011 and was promoted to the senior team in 2013. But he never really got going at Stamford Bridge. He failed to impress during his time and after a series of loans at Reading, Watford and Bournemouth, he joined Bournemouth on a permanent transfer in 2017. After his impressive spell at Vitality Stadium, he joined Manchester City in 2020.
But his spell at the Etihad has not been great. Lack of game time has meant that for the past two years, Ake has spent most of his time on the bench. This is visible from the fact that he has just managed to play only 40 games for the Cityzens in all competitions, since moving there.
Not a preferred option by Pep Guardiola, it is only natural that the player will seek game time elsewhere. And it looks Chelsea could help him with that problem. A left-footed centre-back, he could be the natural replacement for Rudiger on the left side of the back three.
A centre-back who is also capable of playing in the left-back position, he would make an excellent signing for Thomas Tuchel. Apart from him, Chelsea are also close to signing Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli. The two potential arrivals would help solve the current defensive woes and also help in adding defensive depth to the squad.
Ake’s lack of game time for the past two years does not mean he is not capable of performing. A top talent, the 27-year-old Dutchman has the experience of playing the game at the highest level. Also, his potential arrival would help him improve his game-time, which could help him book a seat in the Dutch National Team for the World Cup in November.
Though it remains to be seen if he arrives, the Blues fans have reasons to be optimistic about the Dutchman’s signing. Ake has a second chance to prove his worth to the Blue’s fans and he will not be willing to let this pass. Hopefully, he will turn the tide in his favour and enjoy a stint to remember.
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