This Premier League season looks to be another one where Bournemouth’s status as a club in English football’s top flight will easily be retained.
Under Eddie Howe, since their promotion, the Cherries have rarely ever appeared to be in real danger of going down, managing to finish as high as ninth back in the 2016/17 campaign.
And while they may not be able to replicate that feat this time round, it has still been a good term for Howe’s men with Nathan Ake just one name who continues to impress at the Vitality Stadium.
The Dutchman has been one of Bournemouth’s most consistent performers since joining from Chelsea back in the summer of 2017 for £20m (Sky Sports) in a deal his former side must now be regretting.
Defensively, the Blues have really struggled this season with David Luiz proving to be a weak link in central defence.
Bearing that in mind and at 31 years of age, Ake could have been a great replacement for the Brazilian, especially considering the way Maurizio Sarri likes to play.
The Netherlands international is calm and composed in possession, able to pass the ball out of almost any situation, while he is also pretty strong in the air for someone who is not the tallest of centre-halves.
Ultimately, thanks to the tutelage of Howe during his initial loan spell with Bournemouth and now, Ake has developed into probably one of the leading centre-backs in the Premier League, one Chelsea could desperately do with.
