Chelsea are reportedly interested in bringing Nathan Ake back and are considering to meet the £40 million buyback clause for the Bournemouth star.
The Guardian have speculated that Frank Lampard is looking for reinforcements if and when their transfer ban is lifted. One of the main focuses of the Chelsea manager is the defence, with Bournemouth defender Nathan Ake touted as a potential target.
Nathan Ake is a former Chelsea star. But, his name has gained a lot of traction since moving to Bournemouth. Now one of the mainstays in the back four for Eddie Howe, Ake’s technical ability combined with his poise at the back makes for a complete modern day centre-back.
Chelsea, on the other hand, have been struggling to string together clean sheets, mostly due to the lack of quality options at centre-back. Antonio Rudiger has been unfit for majority of the 2019-20 campaign and the likes of Kurt Zouma and Andreas Christensen have both put in flawed performances. Fikayo Tomori has stepped up and earned a regular place in central defence.
But, even Tomori has been subject to lapses of concentration and judgement. Chelsea need a sturdy back four, foundations of which should start from central defence. Hence, Frank Lampard is considering a move to bring back Nathan Ake, who has proven himself capable of handling Premier League opposition on a consistent basis now.
One of the highlights of Ake’s game is his ability to contribute to the offence as well, having scored in each of the Premier League campaigns since joining Bournemouth in 2016. Another attribute that is quite important and underrated is discipline.
Ake has not accrued more than 5 cards in any of the Premier League campaigns, highlighting his ability to be dominant at the back without resorting to fouls. The 24-year-old has also proven himself to be a leader figure at Bournemouth, donning the captain’s armband for the club.
While Bournemouth may have asked an exorbitant amount for Ake after seeing Harry Maguire go for a record fee during the summer, Chelsea reserve the right to buy Ake back for £40 million, according to a clause as part of the deal that saw the Dutch international join Bournemouth.
£40 million for a player of Ake’s calibre, who is already a mainstay in the Dutch international squad and has established himself as a prime defender in the Premier League over the last couple of years is a bargain in the current market conditions. Also, Ake is a former Chelsea man and would fit in well, especially with many of his youth teammates now making their way into the first-team setup at Stamford Bridge.
A move beckons for the 24-year-old and if Chelsea have their way, the fans might see Ake don the Blue shirt once again.
