Premier League Newcomers Ruled Out Of Race To Sign Nathan Ake Amid Chelsea Interest

Bournemouth are not in the race to sign Manchester City defender Nathan Ake this summer, according to a new report.

Nathan Ake joined Manchester City for £41 million in 2020 after Bournemouth were relegated to the Championship.

Despite enjoying a promising 2021/22 campaign at the Etihad Stadium, the Dutch centre-back has been subject to continued transfer speculation.

Ake has three years remaining on his existing contract in Manchester and has hinted at staying put in search of more minutes at City next season.

The 27-year-old has won two Premier League titles under Pep Guardiola but has struggled for consistent minutes as he competes for a place at the back with Ruben Dias, John Stones and Aymeric Laporte. 

Nathan Ake made 27 appearances and 19 starts for City across all competitions last season, with Guardiola decided against calling him off the bench on a further 27 occasions, 

Manchester City won their fourth Premier League title in five years last term and reached the last four of the Champions League and FA Cup, where they went out at the hands of Real Madrid and Liverpool respectively.

Ake, who has been linked with West Ham previously, has sensationally emerged as a top target for Chelsea - the club where the Netherlands international spent six seasons during his early years in English football.

Chelsea owner Todd Boehly is looking to strengthen Thomas Tuchel’s side after seeing Antonio Rudiger move to Real Madrid on a free transfer.

The west London club are in the market for a central defender and have been linked with moves for Juventus’ Matthijs de Ligt and Sevilla’s Jules Kounde.

However, it has been reported recently that Ake is also a top target for Chelsea, with the Dutchman believed to be open to a return to the English capital. 

Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling is also understood to be closing in on swapping the Etihad Stadium for Stamford Bridge, as Pep Guardiola’s squad undergoes a major refresh this summer amidst several arrivals and departures. 

Chelsea aren’t the only Premier League side interested in acquiring Nathan Ake from the Premier League champions, who would not stand in the defender’s way should he seek an exit this summer.

Newcastle were linked with a move for Ake at the beginning of the transfer window, with Magpies boss Eddie Howe eyeing a potential reunion with the former Bournemouth man at St. James’ Park.

Bournemouth have returned to the Premier League and have also been claimed to hold an interest in bringing back Ake to the Vitality Stadium.

As per a new report by Tom Crocker of the Daily Echo, Bournemoth will not be looking to re-sign the 27-year-old defender ahead of the new season.

Manchester City are not planning to replace Raheem Sterling should he leave this summer, but it remains unknown whether the Sky Blues would seek to replace Ake, 

Ake was crucial in filling in for Ruben Dias and John Stones when injuries plagued Pep Guardiola’s defence towards the end of the 2021/22 campaign.