According to The Telegraph, Newcastle United have identified Nathan Ake as a priority target heading into the summer transfer window.
Eddie Howe is reportedly a massive fan of the Dutch defender, and it doesn’t take a genius to figure out why.
Ake played for Howe at Bournemouth for a number of years before he headed to Manchester City, and now, a reunion between the pair could be on the cards.
As ever though, this deal isn’t going to be as straightforward as it seems on paper.
At a glance, getting Manchester City’s fourth-choice centre-back out of the Etihad looks like a simple deal, especially for the richest football club on the planet, but according to this report, sources within St James’ Park have described this move as ‘difficult’.
Newcastle have reportedly been put off by a £50m price tag that has been placed on Ake’s head, and to be honest, that does seem steep for a player who hasn’t actually seen much first-team action over the past two years.
Sadly for Newcastle, inflated prices come with the territory when every club on the continent knows how rich you are.
However, Howe is a big fan of Ake, and as the transfer window comes to a head, City’s asking price will surely fall as they look to offload the Dutch defender.
This move is looking difficult for Newcastle right now, but perhaps it’s one that could be revisited in a couple of months’ time.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
