Manchester City seem to have moved their attention away from Leicester City defender Harry Maguire, who was reportedly the Premier League champion’s No. 1 target.
The Citizens are now rumoured to be interested in the signature of ex-Chelsea centre-back Nathan Ake, who currently plays for Premier League side Bournemouth.
L’Equipe are reporting that Ake will sign for City this summer, following Leicester’s huge transfer demands for Maguire, with the Foxes demanding more than £70 million for the English defender.
Ake is rumoured to be available for around £40 million as per the report, double of what Bournemouth paid for him two years ago, from Chelsea.
Nathan Ake – Profile
The 24-year-old defender came through the ranks at Feyenoord and then moved to Chelsea, where he didn’t get too many opportunities but was loaned out several times.
Since moving to Bournemouth, Ake has become a regular in Eddie Howe’s team, playing 87 games in all competitions over the last three seasons, scoring 8 goals in total.
Ake has also represented his country, Netherlands, on 10 occasions since making his debut in 2017.
Good move by Manchester City to target Ake?
Pep Guardiola and Manchester City are keen on adding a centre-back to their team to replace Vincent Kompany, who has left the club. A ball-playing defender is the need of the hour for City, and Ake ticks that box.
The left-footed central defender is very good with the ball at his feet, and can comfortably pass from midfield, and move up the pitch with the ball. Ake would fit perfectly in Guardiola’s style of play as he possesses good technique and a calm head.
A player with a very good work rate and energy, Ake has played as a centre-back, left-back, as well as a defensive midfielder over the years, and is comfortable in any of those positions.
Ake made an average of 6.1 clearances last season in the Premier League, while completing 86% of all his passes with an average of 44.6 passes a game, so not only is he sound defensively, but is the Guardiola kind of player.
The Dutchman could flourish at Manchester City and become one of the best defenders in the Premier League.
Ake has Premier League experience, good technical ability, and age on his side, so Manchester City should put in a bid and sign the Dutch defender before the start of the 2019-20 Premier League season.