Former Chelsea defender explains why Chelsea fans shouldn’t be impressed with Nathan Ake deal

Nathan Ake
Photo: Tom Flathers/Manchester City FC via Getty Images

Chelsea’s interest in Nathan Ake is real, and the former Chelsea academy product is set to make a return to the club for the second time.

Ake is interested in the move, and Man City are also ready to sell.

Negotiations for the Netherlands international is ongoing, and a deal should be confirmed soon.

The move for Ake seems to be Thomas Tuchel’s signing, as he sees the former Chelsea defender as the best replacement for the departed Antonio Rudiger.

Former Chelsea right-back Glen Johnson has however questioned the deal.

According to Johnson, Ake isn’t a suitable replacement for the departed Antonio Rudiger, and his signing isn’t the one that will excite the fans.

Sky Sports have also claimed that Thomas Tuchel has been an admirer of Nathan Ake from his time at Borussia Dortmund, and would like for the Man City defender to return to Chelsea to bolster the club’s defensive options.

Speaking to GGRecon, Johnson was asked whether Chelsea fans would feel “underwhelmed” if Ake was the man to replace Rudiger. The former Blues right-back said: “Yes, definitely.

“No disrespect to Ake, but I think most people were surprised when he went to Manchester City, certainly for that amount of money [£40m]. Put it this way, he didn’t blow my mind when he was at Bournemouth. He’s just ‘OK’.

“Then we saw the amount of money for him to go to City, and it was like: ‘Jesus, where have they seen that?!’. I don’t think he’s a suitable replacement for Rudiger at all.”

Chelsea will most likely sign Nathan Ake and Raheem Sterling from Manchester City this summer.