The Chelsea full-back would be a fantastic addition to the West Ham United squad this summer.
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic
Slaven Bilic has a lot of work to do with his Hammers squad this summer, and one particular area of concern for him will be the left-back department.
Aaron Cresswell endured a torrid time following his return from injury this season, and looked to be merely a shadow of the player he was during the 2015/16 campaign.
Arthur Masuaku is another option for the Croatian in the left-back role, but he too failed to prove his worth throughout the course of the season.
Many would argue that he deserves more time to prove himself, but in the cut-throat nature of the Premier League, success is demanded by fans and owners instantly, which means that Bilic might just have to address the left-back position this summer.
Chelsea’s Cesar Azpilicueta and Nathan Ake warm up
With this in mind, an interesting option for West Ham could be Chelsea’s Nathan Ake, with the Dutchman’s future at Stamford Bridge far from certain.
The 22-year-old full-back showcased his talent whilst on loan at Bournemouth for the first half of the 2016/17 Premier League campaign, before being recalled by the Blues in January.
The decision to bring Ake back to the club turned out to be a baffling one by Antonio Conte, with the Holland international playing just two league games for Chelsea.
Chelsea’s Nathan Ake in action
With the strength in depth at the Italian’s disposal, it is unlikely that he will receive more regular game-time next season, and the Hammers should take advantage of that fact by making a move for Ake.
He would most certainly be an upgrade on Masuaku, and his presence amongst the West Ham squad would surely provide more stringent competition for Aaron Cresswell, which would, in-turn, help the 27-year-old return to his best.
Ake would surely command a fairly hefty transfer fee, but the Hammers are expected to head into the summer armed with a substantial transfer budget, so should not be put off by whatever price Chelsea demand for the Dutchman.
Chelsea’s Nathan Ake
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