Chelsea set to trigger bidding war as they seek above £20m for Dutchman
Britain Football Soccer - AFC Bournemouth v Southampton - Premier League - Vitality Stadium - 18/12/16 Bournemouth's Nathan Ake in action Reuters / Hannah McKay Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.
Chelsea will seek to sell defender Nathan Ake for above £20million this summer, according to Daily Mail journalist Simon Jones, with Southampton joining Bournemouth in the race to sign the Dutch international.
The Saints and the Cherries may have competition from other Premier League sides which could drive the price up further, and a bidding war may ensue with a transfer taking place closer to the end of August.
Ake spent the first half of last season on loan at Bournemouth before being recalled by Blues manager Antonio Conte in January to provide more cover in the centre back positions.
With Conte due to strengthen the club’s centre half options this summer by seeking to sign either Juventus’s Leonardo Bonucci or Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk, Ake’s game time next season will be limited.
The 22 year old played just five times on his return to Chelsea in January, and may be keen on a return to the Vitality stadium to play for Bournemouth once again, but it looks as though his future may take a while longer to be determined.