Chelsea are unlikely to exercise their buy-back option to re-sign Nathan Ake this month, according to Sky Sports, which could allow Everton to swoop in.
The Guardian reported last week that the Blues would only have until the end of the month before their £40million buy-back option, inserted into Ake’s deal that took him to Bournemouth for £20million in 2017, would pass its expiration date.
Telegraph Sport claimed in early December, just a day after Chelsea’s transfer ban had been ended prematurely, that Frank Lampard was considering making a move to sign the 24-year old Dutchman.
According to Sky Sports recently, Everton are fans of the Netherlands international defender, although they were said to be behind Tottenham, Manchester City and Chelsea in the queue to land his signature.
However with Chelsea now having cooled their interest in order to pursue other targets, Everton should feel buoyed that one less club are in the running to sign Ake.
Read Everton Verdict
If I was being asked to name my ideal centre-back to sign this month, it would be Nathan Ake, personally. The Dutchman is very calm and composed on the ball, his versatility enables him to cover in midfield in the same vein as Mason Holgate, and, as a left-footed centre-back, he would be more suited to playing on the left side of defence, which would prove useful for the club as Everton are currently without a natural left-footed player in that position. Ake also has vast Premier League experience at just 24, which is more than can be said for almost every other centre-back said to be interesting Everton currently.
Not to mention, WhoScored make him out to be a better performer than both Michael Keane and Mason Holgate this season with an average Premier League score of 6.74, which is only marginally behind Yerry Mina who is on 6.77. This would suggest that Ake would be the ideal partner for Mina, who has impressed for the Toffees this season, leaving Holgate as a very capable rotation player.
With Sky Sports’ recent report claiming that Tottenham and Manchester City are also interested, it does seem to be difficult for Everton to get a deal over the line for Ake, while it is easy to assume that Bournemouth will also be difficult to deal with as they look to desperately cling onto their Premier League status, currently sitting in the relegation zone.
Ake would be a great signing that would add quality and squad depth to Ancelotti’s group of players, and I’d personally like to see the Toffees pursue the Cherries defender.
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