In a recent tweet, renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano claimed that Chelsea have identified Manchester City defender Nathan Ake as a summer target. It has been mentioned that the Blues are showing interest in acquiring the services of the Dutch centre-back in this off-season.
Juventus CEO Arrivabene on Matthijs de Ligt deal with Chelsea: "It's impossible to keep players when they want to leave the club – but all the three parties in the negotiations have to be satisfied", tells Tuttosport. 🇳🇱 #CFC
De Ligt and Nathan Aké, Thomas Tuchel's priorities. pic.twitter.com/kQBg7lWdiM
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 29, 2022
Ake’s Sporadic Role At The Etihad Stadium Last Season
Ake produced a run of solid display at the heart of Man City’s backline but had to settle for a bit-part role in Pep Guardiola’s squad. The former Feyenoord youngster made 27 appearances for the Mancunian outfit in the previous campaign, netting three goals across all fronts.
The 27-year-old performed well to average 1.1 tackles, 0.6 interceptions and 1.5 clearances per 90 minutes in the Premier League. He was even tidy when distributing possession from the back, as evidenced by his pass completion rate of 90.8% in top-flight football (stats via whoscored).
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Is Ake A Good Choice For Chelsea Boss Thomas Tuchel?
Ake is a solid tackler of the ball and can time his challenges well to secure the ball back for his side on the defensive end of the field. He usually clears the danger when the opposition are on the front foot and can use his strong 1.80m frame to win a few headers in the air.
The Dutch sensation excels at playing his way out from the back. Hence, he would be a decent fit for Thomas Tuchel‘s style of play at Chelsea. We can expect Ake to add more bite and steel to the Blues‘ backline and increase competition for places within Tuchel’s squad.
At 27, the Dutch talent is entering his prime and is well-equipped to make an instant impact at the West London club. He needs more playing opportunities which Chelsea have the luxury of offering him due to the recent departure of Antonio Rudiger, who joined Real Madrid recently on a free transfer.
Ake won the Premier League title with Man City last season, so he has got the winning mindset to help Chelsea challenge for major trophies in the coming seasons. However, Tuchel should only move in for him if he plans to play the talented defender regularly in the future.
