---
title: "West Ham United: Irons weigh up Nathan Ake loan bid"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/west-ham-nathan-ake-loan-rumours/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Emilio Galantini"
section: "Premier League"
published: "2021-12-08T17:15:19Z"
modified: "2021-12-08T17:15:19Z"
---

# West Ham United: Irons weigh up Nathan Ake loan bid

**As per [The Evening Standard](https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/west-ham-kurt-zouma-injury-hamstring-b970403.html#r3z-addoor), an update has emerged involving Manchester City defender Nathan Ake and West Ham’s plans for January.**

### The Lowdown: West Ham in defensive crisis…

After injuries to both [Angelo Ogbonna and Kurt Zouma](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/west-ham-zouma-injury-blow-25636667), the Irons have been left short of options at the back, with manager David Moyes having just Issa Diop and Craig Dawson at his disposal.

[West Ham latest updates!](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/west-ham-latest-updates/)

This has prompted the club to look at their options in the transfer market, with the likes of [James Tarkowski](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/16871475/west-ham-transfer-news-james-tarkowski-bid/) and [Nathaniel Phillips](https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-west-ham-lay-groundwork-to-sign-monster-phillips-as-price-tag-revealed/) already linked.

The Championship could also be a source for Moyes as West Ham have reportedly sent scouts to watch QPR defender Rob Dickie, Middlesbrough mainstay Dael Fry and Bournemouth’s Lloyd Kelly ([90min](https://www.90min.com/posts/west-ham-confirm-hamstring-tendon-injury-kurt-zouma)).

### The Latest: West Ham weigh Ake loan bid…

As per [The Evening Standard](https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/west-ham-kurt-zouma-injury-hamstring-b970403.html#r3z-addoor), Moyes is personally keen on signing a left-footed centre-half as West Ham weigh up a January loan bid for Ake.

The Netherlands international, who has been [featuring more often](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/122945/History/Nathan-Ak%C3%A9) for City this season, is now on the Irons’ agenda amid their injury woes, and Moyes wants a player of the 26-year-old’s ilk to bring balance to the back four.

### The Verdict: Right move?

Described as [‘underrated’](https://www.si.com/soccer/manchestercity/.amp/news/virgil-van-dijk-identifies-man-city-star-as-underrated) by international teammate and Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk, bypassing Ake’s £28.8m valuation [(Transfermarkt)](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nathan-ake/profil/spieler/177476) and bringing him in on a temporary basis would be an astute bit of business from West Ham’s perspective.

However, City boss Pep Guardiola could arguably wish to keep the 26-year-old at Eastlands for the time being, with his squad having suffered from player [availability emergencies](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12483381/pep-guardiola-warns-manchester-city-face-emergency-over-player-availability) as of late. For instance, centre-back Aymeric Laporte missed the trip to RB Leipzig on Tuesday night with a [minor knock,](https://www.mancity.com/news/mens/rb-leipzig-manchester-city-team-news-and-tactics-63774488) so Guardiola may want Ake around for cover.

While it would be a hard move to pull off, especially mid-season, there is little arguing that Ake would improve West Ham’s defence, with Guardiola himself recently calling the Dutchman ‘focused’, ‘intelligent’ and a ‘joy to have’ ([mancity.com](https://www.mancity.com/citytv/mens/pep-guardiola-post-burnley-embargo-press-conference-63770024)).

***In other news: West Ham could now back Moyes with £17.1m bid to sign 6 foot 3 powerhouse in January, find out more [here.](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/west-ham-transfer-rumours/west-ham-united-antonin-barak-transfer-rumours-latest-news-david-moyes/)***