A report by The Sun has claimed that Chelsea are interested in bringing Nathan Ake back to the Stamford Bridge from the ranks of Bournemouth.
Ake was sold to Bournemouth in the summer of 2017, and the Cherries had paid a then club record transfer fee of £20m after he failed to break into the first team of the Blues.
Intriguingly, Chelsea had added a buy-back clause in the deal which saw Ake move to the Vitality Stadium and are plotting a £40m deal to get him back in the summer transfer window.
Apart from Maurizio Sarri’s side, the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur are also keeping close tabs on the blossoming centre-back.
Nathan Ake: Profile
Ake spent his youth career with ADO Den Haag and Feyenoord before Chelsea made him sign on the dotted line. However, he failed to establish himself in west London despite his successful loan spells with Reading, Watford, and Bournemouth.
After his permanent move to Bournemouth, he has grown as a player in every aspect and is an instrumental figure in the defensive setup of Eddie Howe’s side. He has played in 22 Premier League games so far this season, scoring 3 goals in the process.
Besides, he has made 1.4 tackles, 6.3 clearances and 1 block per game on an average. After having represented various youth sides of the Netherlands, Ake has secured a spot for himself in the Dutch senior side which is a testament to his progress over the last couple of seasons.
Why Chelsea should sign him?
While Gary Cahill is set to make his exit from Chelsea this month, David Luiz is reportedly keen to return to Benfica. Sarri doesn’t seem entirely convinced by Ethan Ampadu and Andreas Christiansen, and therefore, it isn’t surprising to see Chelsea lining up to reacquire Ake who has been in an excellent form lately.
Ake is sharp and decisive and notably, his vision and passing range enable him to play a key part in the build-up play from the back. Chelsea are clear favourites for his signature, and if his move materialises in the summer, he might turn out to be a valuable asset for his former employers.
The 23-year-old has the potential to cement his place as Chelsea’s first choice defender alongside Antonio Rudiger. Luiz has been impressive but only in patches and it is high time the Blues zero in on a stable pairing that will, in turn, help Chelsea focus on their attack which will also see considerable changes in the near future.
Statistics Credits: WhoScored
