Chelsea And Manchester Edge Closer To Nathan Ake Transfer Agreement

Chelsea and Manchester City are now edging closer towards an agreement for the permanent transfer of Nathan Ake, according to new reports.

The Stamford Bridge club are undergoing a major revamp of their first-team squad this summer, following the takeover led by Todd Boehly.

The Premier League champions have been subject to a large amount of interest from Chelsea, with Raheem Sterling another primary target for manager Thomas Tuchel.

However, new information on Wednesday night has revealed that an agreement is now close between the two clubs for Dutch international Nathan Ake.

The centre-back joined Manchester City in the summer of 2020 in a deal from AFC Bournemouth worth in the region of £40 million.

Following a somewhat transitional season across the 2020/21 campaign, Ake later proved to be a crucial cog in the Pep Guardiola system last campaign.

With crucial fill-in performances at both centre-back and left-back, Nathan Ake's performances for Manchester City improved dramatically, but the latest reports would suggest that the optimism and excitement within the club's fanbase around the player may be cut short.

According to the information of Matteo Moretto, Chelsea are now working and getting to closer to their first signing in defence, which is Manchester City's Nathan Aké.

Moretto reports that the two Premier League giants are now 'getting closer' to a full agreement on the financials of a deal.

Additionally, it is detailed that the current proposal on the table from Chelsea is 'almost £40 million'.

El Chelsea trabaja para cerrar el primer fichaje en defensa: Nathan Aké, del City, está cada vez más cerca. Sobre la mesa casi 40 millones. @relevo

— Matteo Moretto (@MatteMoretto) June 29, 2022

A move from Manchester City to Chelsea would mark an emotional return to the club where it all started for Nathan Ake in English football.

The now 27 year-old moved to the Chelsea youth system from Dutch outfit Feyenoord in 2010, before consecutive loan spells at Reading, Watford, and Bournemouth developed the defender to earn a recall to Stamford Bridge's first team in January of 2017.

A special moment for @NathanAke! 💙pic.twitter.com/OSyLsXKOBM

— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) September 17, 2021

However, that was a short-lived experience, as Nathan Ake was later sold on a permanent deal to his former loan club Bournemouth.

Three years later, and it was Pep Guardiola's side who came calling - a side where Nathan Ake has continued to challenge the likes of Ruben Dias, John Stones, and Aymeric Laporte for starting roles in the centre of defence.

Despite playing for the club for just two years to date, the Netherlands international defender has earned a haul of three major trophies in two Premier League titles and one Carabao Cup.

Should Ake secure a transfer back to Chelsea this summer, then Manchester City officials may be tempted to enter the transfer market for a replacement, with the likes of Pau Torres and Matthijs de Ligt known to have been admired by key officials in the past.