Man City do NOT want to sell Nathan Ake without a big offer and replacement amid Chelsea interest | OneFootball

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City Report

·30 June 2022

Man City do NOT want to sell Nathan Ake without a big offer and replacement amid Chelsea interest

Article image:Man City do NOT want to sell Nathan Ake without a big offer and replacement amid Chelsea interest

Manchester City have no current intention of selling Nathan Ake, and the Dutch defender will not be sold without a replacement and a large fee as Pep Guardiola's side look to fend off interest from Premier League rivals Chelsea – according to reports.

The central defender has been a player of interest to multiple clubs throughout the transfer window so far, but with Chelsea stepping up their interest, the Premier League champions have made their stance clear via a report from Simon Bajkowski in the Manchester Evening News.


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Reports from across the football media suggest that former Chelsea man Ake is a key target for Todd Boehly and Thomas Tuchel, with the London club in need of central defensive reinforcements after multiple departures. However, City will not let Ake go lightly only having four senior centre-backs themselves.

The Blues will require a fee of over £50 million for the defender. Guardiola will also require a replacement to be lined up for Ake to leave, despite his policy of letting unhappy or want-away players depart with little hassle. The versatile defender is contracted until 2025 at the Etihad meaning the quoted £50m+ fee, the same they demanded when Newcastle enquired about a former Eddie Howe favourite earlier in the summer, is justified.

Whether Chelsea are willing to go that high is yet to be seen, though. According to reports from Bobby Vincent at football.london, Chelsea's opening bid is set to be around £30 million. With both clubs already in “promising” talks over Raheem Sterling, it feels baffling that Chelsea would open with such a derisory offer for Ake.

Whilst the Dutchman hasn't managed to make regular minutes at City, he is trusted and respected by Guardiola, and a fee over £50m would be all it takes for City to even begin looking for a replacement, never mind waving him out the door. Boehly since taking over Chelsea and becoming interim Sporting Director has been on the phone non-stop with club executives all over Europe as he seeks to give Tuchel a squad capable of competing with City.

However, the policy of “if you can't beat 'em, buy 'em” may not be enough if the American new to the football market won't stump up the money for those he and Chelsea target.

With months left to go in the transfer window, this deal could be one to keep an eye on.

Article image:Man City do NOT want to sell Nathan Ake without a big offer and replacement amid Chelsea interest

Photo courtesy of Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images

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