Nathan Ake to Chelsea is a transfer that could yet get over the line but it may not be as imminent as some think. It was reported late on Wednesday night that an agreement of around £34m could be reached for the Dutch defender, who would be following Romelu Lukaku's path in trying to make a Stamford Bridge homecoming work.
Although that plan backfired for the Belgian, who has now returned to Inter Milan on loan, Chelsea supporters are understandably a little dubious as to why they would go back in for a defender who couldn't make the cut before he was sold to Bournemouth and eventually, Pep Guardiola's side.
"That’s a strange one. Listen, Chelsea didn’t get rid of Ake in the first place because they thought he was going to be a great centre-back," ESPN pundit Steve Nicol said on this specific transfer. "City, he doesn’t play regularly because he’s a great centre-back. When played at Bournemouth, they had one of the worst defensive records in the Premier League - maybe if my memory serves me, the worst.
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"This sounds like I’m down on Nathan Ake but the fact of the matter is he’s a good player but for me he’s not a top defender and Chelsea need top defenders. If Chelsea want to win the Premier League or the Champions League then I’m sorry, Nathan Ake doesn't take you there.
"He’s good to have as your third centre-back, good to have for back-up for a top team for a period of time to play a certain amount of games but not week in, week out. I don’t understand this one."
football.london understands that Chelsea have sent an official proposal Man City's way for the 27-year-old. But unless the £50m asking price is met, as per the Manchester Evening News, then City's No. 6 will be going nowhere.
Whether or not a compromise can be reached on a fee, as is expected to be the case for the Raheem Sterling situation, remains to be seen but this isn't the only obstacle in the way of Todd Boehly. This is because in the same report from the MEN, they clarify that Guardiola won't give the green light for this sale until a replacement is brought in.
Who that is remains to be seen, with no central defenders currently being heavily linked to the Premier League champions, with the only viable rumour the one of Brighton left-back Marc Cucurella. But one thing remains for certain and that is the fact that there will need to be some patience on both sides of this deal.
Chelsea fans- Is Nathan Ake worth the £50million quoted? Leave your thoughts down below in the comments section!
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