Manchester City are ‘close’ to agreeing a deal for Bournemouth defender Nathan Ake for a fee of £35million.
Having lifted their Champions League ban altogether, City are preparing for a summer to spend ahead of their bid to regain the Premier League title next season.
Ake has been a figure of consistency for Cherry/Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images
The attacking quality of Pep Guardiola’s side has never been in doubt, but the Citizens have struggled defensively throughout the campaign following the retirement of Vincent Kompany in the early stages of the season and an injury to Aymeric Laporte.
According to the Guardian, City plan to solve their defensive problems by signing Bournemouth’s Ake in a £35m deal, which is now ‘close’.
The 25-year-old joined the Cherries from Chelsea in 2017 for £20million, and has consistently been one of their standout performers this season despite Bournemouth’s struggles.
Ake’s contract at the Vitality Stadium runs until 2022, but there is an acceptance at the club that he will depart in the summer.
Ake is out for the rest of the season after sustaining the injury against Leicester/Pool/Getty Images
Bournemouth are currently all but relegated to the Championship after a disappointing season, sitting three points from safety with a game to play. If Watford pick up a point in either of their two remaining fixtures, their relegation will be confirmed.
Ake has often been linked with a return to Chelsea – the club he spent six years with before moving to Bournemouth in 2017.
The Blues had a £40m buy-back clause in the defender’s contract as part of the deal that saw him move to the south coast, which was reported to still be active in the upcoming summer transfer window. Is.
Ake featured sporadically for Chelsea in his youth / Scott Heavey / Getty Images
Ake initially joined Bournemouth on loan in 2016, before making the switch permanent in 2017, steadily establishing himself as a figure of consistency for Eddie Howe’s side.
Bournemouth fans may have seen the last of Ake, with the Dutch international set to miss the rest of the season following a brace against Leicester.