Newcastle United are interested in signing Nathan Ake from Manchester City as Eddie Howe eyes a fruitful reunion with the defender.
According to talkSPORT, Nathan Ake is a target for Newcastle United for the upcoming transfer window, as Eddie Howe eyes a reunion with his former ward. The duo worked together at Bournemouth and Manchester City are reportedly open to selling the defender for the right offer.
Manchester City drew plenty of attention when they decided to sign Nathan Ake from Bournemouth for £40 million in 2020. With such a spend on a central defender, it seemed like the player would be a key part of Pep Guardiola’s side for the next many years, although the reality has been very different for the Dutchman.
Ake had been an impressive performer while at Bournemouth but has struggled to nail down a regular place under Guardiola. He finds himself behind Aymeric Laporte, Ruben Dias, and John Stones in the pecking order, with the latter trio preferred to start in central defence.
Ake has done well in cameo roles or occasional starts either at centre-back or left-back. He managed only ten starts this past season while making 14 appearances in the league overall. In all competitions, Ake featured in a total of 27 games, scoring thrice.
Manchester City are keen to address their problems at left-back and would like to bring in someone new in the position. The club are, in fact, ready to let Oleksandr Zinchenko leave alongside Ake if the right offers come in.
Manchester City are ready to use the funds generated by the sales of those two stars and fund a move for Marc Cucurella, who is their primary target. While Zinchenko is attracting widespread interest, with Arsenal supposedly leading the chase, Ake has emerged as a target for Newcastle United.
Manager Eddie Howe knows Ake well from his days at Bournemouth and wants a reunion with the 27-year-old defender. Newcastle United are ready to flex their financial muscle heading into the summer window and could be willing to spend significantly for a player like Ake.
Newcastle did have an interest back in the Netherlands international back in January, but Guardiola refused to sell Ake midway through the season. But with Manchester City now open to a sale, the Magpies will attempt to bring the Dutchman to St James Park. Sven Botman was their primary target for the central defensive position.
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However, with the Lille star’s arrival looking more and more improbable with each passing day, Ake could be a viable alternative for Howe and Newcastle. The 27-year-old has a contract with Manchester City until 2025, allowing the club to demand a significant sum from the Magpies. If Newcastle United are serious about their interest in the Dutchman, a move could certainly materialise in the coming weeks.
