Hansi Flick is interested in signing Manchester City defender Nathan Ake, although there are some complex issues to resolve before launching a move.
According to Fichajes, Barcelona boss Hansi Flick is interested in bringing Nathan Ake in the January window. The injury to Andreas Christensen has pushed the club into the market for a left-sided defender, with the versatile Manchester City defender now emerging as a big target, although there are complex issues to resolve before launching a move.
Barcelona are being linked with a host of defenders in the market, following the season-ending injury to Andreas Christensen. The Dane’s absence leaves Hansi flick short of options at the back, with the club specifically looking at left-sided options to shore up their defence.
Arsenal’s Piero Hincapie is a target, but certainly one that the Gunners won’t allow to leave at this stage of his career in north London. Similarly, there’s Marc Guehi on their list, but the Crystal Palace star is not looking to move in January, while a move for Pau Torres is all but ruled out owing to the complexities of convincing Aston Villa to any deal.
Nathan Ake is the latest name to be linked, with Manchester City ready to entertain offers for the Dutchman in January. The versatile Manchester City defender has fallen in the pecking order following the preference of Nico O’Reilly and Josko Gvardiol in the positions he usually occupies under Pep Guardiola.
Hence, he might be open to a departure, as Barcelona boss Hansi Flick would like the club to bring the versatile Manchester City defender to Catalonia. However, there are major complexities in the mix for Barcelona before they could launch a move for Ake.
Can Barcelona sign Nathan Ake?
The report states a €20 million fee would be required to sign Ake at the very least, which may be an issue for Barcelona at the current moment. Moreover, there are significant doubts whether they can afford to pay Ake’s salary compared to how much he is earning at Manchester City on a contract valid until 2027.
The likes of Inter Milan and Juventus are keen, as well as some Premier League sides, as these are teams with significant financial muscle than Barcelona. Hence, there are no guarantees that the Catalans will be able to convince the defender over a move, as he could have better options to move around in the market.