According to Sky Sports News, Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe has played down rumours of the potential sale of star defender Nathan Ake amid interest from Chelsea and Arsenal.
When asked whether any clubs had made an approach for Ake, Howe responded with ‘nothing to report’.
The Gunners are in dire need for defensive reinforcements in January following the long-term injury to Calum Chambers.
According to the Telegraph, Bournemouth could be forced to listen to possible offers of £45m for the ace, considering that Chelsea have a £40m buy-back clause on the 24-year-old.
Sky Sports reiterate that Ake is currently sidelined, would it be wise for the Gunners to make a move for defender that’s coming off of an injury?
If the centre-back can prove he’s still the player he was before his injury, there’s no doubt that he’d be a great option for the Gunners.
Ake has made 133 Premier League appearances to date, this is very impressive for a player that is just 24 years old.
With Arsenal’s summer business indicating that the club are moving in the direction of younger players, his signature would certainly make sense as he definitely has the potential to improve and become a real superstar in the future.
I dont really fancy d guy but as he could play both cb and lb, however, I would love it if we could go for an EPL establish/experienced cb
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 seems to be an overrated CB, who is overhyped by the media. Only buy him if Arteta plans to play him as an LB or a DM
I always enjoyed your analysis and comments on issues here. They are often different in a good type of way.
Your prediction on Adama Traore also came to pass.
I am a regular reader here who comment less.
Thanks man. I rarely watch the commentaries and the interviews, because I prefer to pay attention to the players’ actions on the field
I watched Adama Traore regularly when he played for Luis Enrique at Barcelona, but I rarely watch Nathan Ake
Fans like us can only see the stats, but Arsenal scouts should analyze their targets directly at the stadiums
I would make Demiral my number 1 choice, higher than Upamencano.
Guy is a beast and more likely to be available due to Juve’s CB stocks. He will also be cheaper.
He would suit the premier league as well in my opinion. Him and Saliba for the next decade….drool
Juve have already rejected €30M and €40M bids for him. Source: skysports