Nathan Ake is said to be joining Bournemouth from Chelsea for £20m, but at that price should Newcastle enter the race?
The Sun have reported that Chelsea defender Nathan Ake is on the verge of joining AFC Bournemouth permanently in a £20m deal.
Ake impressed on loan at the Vitality Stadium during the first half of last season, so much so in fact that Blues manager Antonio Conte recalled the 22-year-old in January – although he made just five appearances from then on.
Bournemouth’s Nathan Ake celebrates scoring their first goal
Now Conte is ready to let the Dutchman leave Stamford Bridge on a permanent basis to help fund his pursuit of Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk and Leonardo Bonucci of Juventus, with Bournemouth looking to capitalise.
Yet should newly promoted Newcastle United be ready to challenge the Cherries for Ake, especially as they have shown interest in the Netherlands international in the past?
The Chronicle reported in May that the Magpies were considering Ake as a loan option and while that no longer seems to be on the table, with Rafa Benitez seeking defensive recruitment the Chelsea man could still be the perfect solution.
While the Blues defender is generally used as a centre-back, he can also play at left-back and is comfortable operating in either a three or four-man back-line.
Not to mention the fact that Ake has the best years of his career ahead of him still and with loan spells in Dorset and at Watford before that, already has a decent amount of Premier League experience under his belt.
Arsenal’s Theo Walcott in action with Bournemouth’s Nathan Ake
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