Bournemouth have accepted a bid of £41 million for defender Nathan Ake, according to The Athletic’s Peter Rutzler. The Dutchman always seemed likely to leave the Cherries following their relegation from the Premier League, and it now seems that he will be staying in the top flight with Manchester City.
Bournemouth Accept Manchester City’s Bid for Nathan Ake
A Needed Addition
Even if Bournemouth had managed to escape relegation on the final day, it’s likely Nathan Ake would have looked to leave considering how low down the table the side would have finished.
Since joining the club from Chelsea, he has been one of the most consistent performers for Eddie Howe’s side, earning many plaudits.
For Manchester City, too, this is a needed addition. Aymeric Laporte has been their stand-out centre-back all season, while on the other side, John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi have failed to convince, which has often left Fernandinho filling in at the back.
The emergence of Eric Garcia towards the end of this campaign in another positive for City, but signing a talent such as Ake will go some way to boosting their squad as they look to claim their Premier League title back from Liverpool.
One slight issue is that both Laporte and Ake are left-footed players, which could make them unbalanced. However, there is no suggestion yet that Ake would even be a starter for the club, given the strength in depth that City possess in other positions.
The money gained from this sale will be helpful for Bournemouth as they look to build a squad capable of returning to the Premier League as quickly as possible. Combined with the parachute payments following their relegation from the top flight and the cash from likely other sales, this should be a comfortable task for them.
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