Nathan Ake could be set to join Manchester City this summer if French publication L’Equipe are to be believed.
Tottenham were also said to be interested in Ake’s services but, according to L’Equipe, it is Manchester City who are set to win the race for the Dutch defender’s signature before the start of the new Premier League season.
The chance to play in the Champions League and work under a manager such as Pep Guardiola will surely be enticing to Ake. The Bournemouth man, however, could be playing a dangerous game by joining the Citizens this summer considering the central defensive options they currently have.
For example, Guardiola has Aymeric Laporte, Nicolas Otamendi and John Stones all to call upon. Breaking into the first team could be a difficult task.
While Ake was able to make more tackles per game (1.7) than the trio, his passing was not as accurate. And with ball retention obviously a key part of Guardiola’s game, with Manchester City averaging more possession than any other team in the Premier League last season (64%), that could be a problem (as per WhoScored).
With an 86% pass success rate, Ake’s average falls short of John Stones’ incredible 94.2%, Otamendi’s 92.7% and Laporte’s 92.3%. If he is to be a player Guardiola is to trust at the back, then that would surely need to go up.
With better players around him, perhaps it would. But ultimately, with three quality centre-halves to compete against, game time might be hard to come by at the Etihad for the Netherlands international.
Bournemouth fans, will Ake leave this transfer window? Let us know what you think in the comment section below!
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