Barcelona to face stiff competition in their pursuit of Manchester City defender Nathan Ake, who is up for sale.
Manchester City seem to have some big plans for the next summer transfer window. While they have made some significant moves in recent windows, City are planning a squad overhaul ahead of next season.
They want to freshen things up and have already made a few decisions regarding the same. Not only do they want to bring in new faces, but the Manchester-based giants are also ready to part ways with a few of their experienced campaigners.
According to a report from Fichajes, City are more than willing to sanction the departure of Nathan Ake, who is at the top of Barcelona’s wishlist. The Catalan giants are desperate to have him on their bench, but they are set to face stiff competition from Bayer Leverkusen and Atletico Madrid.
Ake has only gone from strength to strength since joining City in the summer of 2020 from Bournemouth. He might not have been a regular starter, but he has certainly been an integral part of Guardiola’s plans. The 30-year-old has played a big part in their success and has won every major title during his time at the club.
Ake to leave Manchester City
While he prefers playing as a centre-back, the Dutch international is capable enough to feature anywhere at the back and can even feature in midfield if needed. Guardiola would love to have him around, but it seems City have decided to move on from him.
They want to invest in a young star for the long run, and Ake’s departure will also boost their wage bill. More importantly, with just a year left on his deal in the summer, it’s City’s final opportunity to cash in on him. People at the club consider his departure a profitable transition.
Barcelona to face stiff competition
With City ready to sell, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, and Bayer Leverkusen are keeping a close eye on the 30-year-old. Flick is a massive admirer of the defender and considers him an ideal fit for his project. He believes Ake could significantly bolster their left flank.
The Spanish giants would be willing to fork out €25-€30 million to land the Dutch defender. Ake seems to be a perfect warrior to bolster Diego Simeone’s team, that haven’t been compact enough at the back this term.
Meanwhile, Leverkusen see him as a reliable replacement for their current stars. In case of the departure of any of their first-team stars, they would push hard to sign the 30-year-old. The ball certainly seems to be in the player’s court, and it will be interesting to see what decision he takes.