According to transfer insider Dean Jones, Chelsea will "100%" be aiming to re-sign Nathan Ake this summer.
Thomas Tuchel urgently needs defensive additions in the coming months because Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen have already left, and Jones believes Ake might make a return to Stamford Bridge.
Heading into pre-season, the Chelsea boss has just four senior centre-backs at his disposal and that includes Cesar Azpilicueta, whose own long-term future in west London isn’t yet secured.
Malang Sarr and Trevoh Chalobah, two of them, lack senior-level experience, therefore the Club World Cup champions' defense needs to be strengthened there.
Although Jules Kounde has been mentioned, the Telegraph asserts that Tuchel has a long-term interest in Ake, a Chelsea academy product who made 17 appearances before moving on to Bournemouth.
The report adds that Ake, who cost Manchester City £40m in 2020, could be the perfect replacement for Rudiger, while the Blues are also attracted to his ability to play at left-back and in midfield.
Chelsea turned down the chance to re-sign the Dutchman two years ago after inserting a buyback clause into his switch to Bournemouth in 2017, but Jones reckons they could finally get their man.
Would Ake be a good signing for Chelsea?
If Ake is Chelsea’s only defensive addition this summer, which is extremely unlikely to prove the case, then his signing wouldn’t look as shrewd.
But if the Blues are successful in their attempts to finally land Kounde and maybe one more of his calibre, then the Netherlands international would surely be viewed as a really decent squad player.
He would not only bolster their central defensive numbers, but he could also provide cover at left wing-back for Ben Chilwell, providing Marcos Alonso becomes the latest experienced ace to depart.
Therefore, in a season like no other, with the schedule expected to stretch squads more than ever before, Chelsea could do a lot worse than re-signing the Manchester City man.
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