---
title: "West Ham: Irons linked with Nathan Ake"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/whu-nathan-ake-transfer-news/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Henry Jackson"
section: "Premier League"
published: "2021-12-03T18:35:25Z"
modified: "2021-12-03T18:35:25Z"
---

# West Ham: Irons linked with Nathan Ake

**West Ham are reportedly interested in signing Manchester City centre-back Nathan Ake in order to make up for the loss of Angelo Ogbonna.**

### The Lowdown: Ake struggling for playing time

The [£100,000-a-week](https://salarysport.com/football/premier-league/manchester-city-f.c./) Dutchman joined City in 2020 but he has found regular football hard to come by, with the likes of Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte and John Stones keeping him out of the team.

[West Ham developments](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/west-ham-developments-2/)

Ake has [only managed four starts](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/122945/Show/Nathan-Ak%C3%A9) in the Premier League so far this season, as well as just one in the Champions League, and he may want a fresh challenge soon. The [1.8m-tall](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nathan-ake/profil/spieler/177476) (6 foot) defender was limited to just [nine top-flight starts](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/122945/History/Nathan-Ak%C3%A9) at the Etihad Stadium last term, too.

The 26-year-old has [23 caps](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nathan-ake/profil/spieler/177476) to his name for the Netherlands and may want to be a key figure at club level ahead of the 2022 World Cup.

\[freshpress-poll id=”378392″\]

### The Latest: West Ham keen on move

According to [90min](https://www.90min.com/posts/west-ham-identify-nathan-ake-january-transfer-target-man-city), West Ham have identified Ake as a transfer target in January, seeing him as someone who can fill the void left by Ogbonna, who is out [injured](https://theathletic.com/news/ogbonna-ruled-out-for-season-with-acl-injury-confirms-west-ham-manager-moyes/KxfZmlLcGXEI/) for the rest of the season.

It is stated that a loan move is on the offing, with a potential to sign him permanently at the end of the season.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”375613″\]

### The Verdict: Strong Ogbonna alternative

Ake may not have cut the mustard consistently for City, but he is still a hugely competent centre-back who [Premier League-winning](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/pep-guardiola/erfolge/trainer/5672) manager Pep Guardiola [claimed](https://www.mancity.com/citytv/mens/pep-guardiola-post-burnley-embargo-press-conference-63770024) is a ‘joy’ to have in his squad.

At 26, the former Chelsea defender is also approaching his prime years and he could not only make up for the loss of Ogbonna in the short run, he may even represent a long-term replacement for the 32-year-old Italian.

Ake has averaged [three interceptions](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/122945/Show/Nathan-Ak%C3%A9) per game in the Champions League this season, showing he can excel at the highest level – [Declan Rice (1.9)](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/29/Show/England-West-Ham) is West Ham’s top performer in the Premier League in that regard, so the Dutchman may add something new to the Irons’ line-up if he makes the move.

***In other news, West Ham have been linked with an audacious swoop for one player. Find out who it is [here](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/west-ham-transfer-rumours/whu-newman-eyeing-insigne-move/).***