Chelsea are reportedly considering a summer move for Manchester City centre-back Nathan Ake.
According to the reliable Nathan Gissing while writing for Gianluca Di Marzio’s website, Chelsea’s centre-back hunt has taken them back to Nathan Ake, who spent six seasons with the club after joining them as a 16-year-old from Feyenoord. Now with Manchester City, Ake has a big admirer in Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel, who could ask the club to make a summer move for him.
The Blues are desperately looking to add defensive reinforcements following Antonio Rudiger’s departure to Real Madrid and Andreas Christensen’s impending move to Barcelona. Chelsea could also lose the full-back duo of Marcos Alonso and Cesar Azpiliceuta, both of whom have just a year remaining on their contracts at Stamford Bridge.
Sevilla’s Jules Kounde is reportedly Chelsea’s top target this summer. The west Londoners failed to complete a deal for the Frenchman last year after the Andalusian club increased their demands at the last minute. Chelsea retained their interest and have returned to secure Kounde’s signature. They are also confident of completing the deal.
The Sevilla centre-back is believed to be keen on moving to Chelsea as well. But even with Kounde’s arrival, Tuchel will need at least one more top-class centre-back, and a reunion with Ake could be on the cards.
The Dutch international joined Bournemouth from Chelsea in 2017 before making the move to Manchester City three years later. In two seasons, the centre-back has made 40 appearances for the Manchester City, often playing as a backup for Pep Guardiola’s first-choice central defenders.
Ake still has three years remaining on his contract at the Etihad, but he could reconsider his Manchester City future if Chelsea offer him regular first-team minutes with the 2022 FIFA World Cup coming up later this year.
A possible deal for Ake might not result in the only trade between Manchester City and Chelsea this summer. Raheem Sterling is on the Blues’ radar as well, and they are confident of completing a deal for the England international.
Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembele has been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge as well, but Chelsea are wary of the Frenchman’s injury record and could pull out of a move.
