Arsenal has become the latest side to be interested in Bournemouth’s Nathan Ake.
The Cherries are struggling this season but Ake remains one of their best players and this month might just be his last month at the Vitality Stadium, according to the Telegraph.
Ake’s form for the Cherries has seen him attract the attention of top English sides like Chelsea and Arsenal.
The Blues have a buy-back clause and will believe they have first option to re-sign the Dutchman.
However, Arsenal will be feeling they can land the Dutchman ahead of Chelsea as the Blues are looking to strengthen other areas of their team.
Nathan Ake would cost Chelsea £40 million if they exercise their option but the Cherries would prefer to sell him to other suitors as they could net as much as £50 million.
Arsenal’s desire to land a new defender has become even more important as they have just lost Calum Chambers to a long term injury.
Mikel Arteta has admitted that his plans have changed with that new injury so it would be interesting to see if Arsenal will go all out for the 24-year-old.
The Gunners are also interested in signing Dayot Upamecano but Ake’s Premier League experience makes him a great candidate.
Given a preference, I would always prefer the cub to sign players with Premier League experience and Ake certainly fits that criteria. The bottom line is there is no time to be bedding new players in right now, look how much of the season has been lost with the summer signings. Arsenal really should be signing someone that can hit the ground running.
I’m just waiting for the perennial Benzema rumour. After all these years, now is the time to get him! He’s bang in form.
Benzema just signed a contract extension with RM last week or so?
Lol, this transfer cycle really does feel like papers are just dusting off the usual rumors. Incoming Draxler, M’villa next…
is that the number one ongoing rumour over time 🙂 If not, it must be close. The guy will be dead 30 years and we will see him mentioned in summer and January…
Besides, we are getting Thomas Lemar!
Tell Please WHY is not ARSENAL not looking at Norwich TODD CANTWELL 21 YEARS OLD scored 6 goals already looks good prospect in midfield
MAN-UTD Are interested in TODD CANTWELL
I think Ake would be a great get right now (not necessarily long-term but right now), can’t imagine that they would let him go.
Only if Arteta plans to play him as an LB or a DM
I’m not convinced by him as a CB
I agree with you
@gotanidea
Pundits and Howe’s fellow managers laud Howe as the reminiscent of Guardiola and he is deemed to have the same philosophy as Wenger, so his CBs should have topped the EPL passing chart. Let’s see Nathan Ake’s stats in EPL so far:
– Passes: He should have produced more passes since Bournemouth like to play from the back, but he is not even in the top 20 most productive passers list
– Interceptions: His colleagues, Rico, Billing, Norwood and Cook, intercepted more passes than him. Even Guendouzi, a squad rotation player at Arsenal, is a better interceptor
– Tackles: His colleagues, Billing and Rico, made more tackles. This shows Ake prefer to shadow rather than tackling and Ake is not even in the top 30 best tacklers list
– Blocks: His colleagues, Billing and Cook, made more blocks. Ake is not even in the top 20 best blockers list
– Aerial battles won: Dunk and Luiz won more aerial battles than Ake
– Height: Around 180 cm, which too short to be an EPL CB. I know Puyol, Mascherano and Umtiti are also small CBs, but they played at a mega club with a highly established system
– Team’s position in EPL table: 18th and would likely be relegated. Mustafi also came from an almost-relegated Valencia, so there is a possibility Ake is no better than what we have
Conclusion: Ake is an overrated CB, who is overhyped by the media
Gotanidea on the topic of Maitland-Niles you have my full support
the others who are criticizing you have to understand that football isn’t as simple as before anymore.. Many football analysts have wrote the same about niles as you about the inverted RB
Eddie, Phil I normally often agree with your opinions but you should read the article about Niles on Football London
Thanks man
I think the Gooners you mentioned rarely pay attention to Arsenal’s games
They probably just watch the highlights or only switch back to the sports channel after Arsenal score
you mentioned similar things about inverted wingers too and I agree with you there too for example Jesus Navas was a natural winger but nowadays top clubs usually don’t use them, Liverpool being one of the prime example that was also the reason why Wenger changed Sanchez from the right to the left side
I like to read analysis from our games and I think you have an interest there too ^^
Perhaps he is “inverted” though.
I agree with you, I don’t see Ake as a good center back
Rumour mill.
Wonders shall never cease. You know what? David Luiz is on Garth Crooks’ BBC sport team of the week list. How I wish he maintains his place there week in week out. Nice to see Arsenal man there after a very long while.
Can he play as a central defender? 😆
arsenal needs a strong deffensive middlefielder like allan from napoli
When was the last time Arsenal had a player that sold for 50m pounds? What is happening to our players in the academy?
Tell me about it; clubs getting so restless now!