Chelsea’s loan policy has come under scrutiny time and time again in recent seasons and has cost them dearly at times. They have lost talented players like Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku after they failed to keep them happy by offering playing time. They have forked out good money for kids but decide to ship them despite their prodigious talent. Some moved away in search of regular playing time while some are still plying their trade on loan for clubs like Vitesse.
Nathan Ake has been one of the best performing young players in the Premier League this season. The Dutchman is at Bournemouth on a season-loan from Chelsea and his good performances have not gone unnoticed by Conte as per recent reports. Reports claim that Chelsea have the option to recall the 21-year-old in January but Eddie Howe is looking to negotiate a £10milllion transfer fee which will allow him to keep 21-year-old for the long-term.
Ake was always a quality young player and burst onto the scene quite some time back. He joined Chelsea as a 17-year-old back in 2013 and could make only 12 appearances for the Blues before moving to Reading, Watford and then Bournemouth on loan. The Dutchman has developed really well during his loan spell at Watford and Bournemouth and a permanent move to Bournemouth does make sense.
It is a public knowledge that Conte will be in the market for defensive reinforcements in January and Ake moving back to Chelsea could be another wise decision. The Dutchman is exactly the type of defender Conte likes. He is a versatile player who can play at centre-back, left-back and defensive midfield. The youngster will give Conte so many options and is someone whom the Blues should let go off.
However, Ake must be careful while choosing between a move back to his parent club or commit his future permanently to Bournemouth. Kurt Zouma has now recovered from a serious knee injury and Andreas Christensen, earmarked to return from a loan spell at Borussia Monchengladbach in the summer, has impressed and is likely to be in the Blues’ long-term plans. Ake moving back to Chelsea will see his chances of playing getting limited.
On the other hand, Bournemouth are playing quite impressive football under Howe and could become a reckoned Premier League force in coming years. Ake is a first-team regular at Vitality and should opt for regular playing time rather than playing just a bit-part role at Chelsea. He is a decent young player who can develop into a world-class defender and needs to play regularly for that. If Bournemouth are ready to offer him a deal, there is no reason for him to say no.
