Manchester City
Premier League • England
Man City want profit on Nathan Ake after Newcastle emerge as possible transfer destination
Newcastle United have added Nathan Ake to their shortlist of defensive targets, but Manchester City may price them out of a deal, according to a report.
Ake joined Manchester City in 2020 from Bournemouth, during the same summer Eddie Howe left the South Coast club. Since then, he has had to make do with a supporting role in the squad.
The Dutch defender is behind Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte and John Stones in the hierarchy for his position. Although he can also play at left-back, he has had to battle with Joao Cancelo and Oleksandr Zinchenko for that role too.
Still, Ake managed 27 appearances in all competitions for Manchester City last season. He ended it as a Premier League winner for the second year in a row.
But at the age of 27, he may be hoping for more regular gametime elsewhere. As such, he has been linked with a move to Newcastle by The Sun.
Joining Newcastle would allow Ake to reunite with Howe, under whom he made 121 appearances for Bournemouth. The Magpies are looking for another defender after adding Dan Burn from Brighton in January.
However, if they are to sign Ake, they would have to break their transfer record. According to The Sun, Man City are holding out for a £50m windfall.
After paying £40m for him two years ago, City want to turn a profit. They still have him under contract until 2025.
Despite this, the Premier League champions would not stand in Ake’s way if he wanted to leave in the months preceding the World Cup. At Newcastle, he would play more regularly.
What’s more, they would be able to accommodate his salary of £80,000 per week.
Newcastle should be wary of Nathan Ake value
Therefore, Ake and Newcastle may be a good match. His versatility at the back would be useful for Howe’s evolving setup.
Their prior connection also proves Ake could be a success under his former Bournemouth boss.
Whether he is worth £50m, though, is another question. If anything, his value should have declined due to a lack of regular starts for City.
Newcastle can pay almost any sum these days thanks to their Saudi owners. However, they must weigh up which targets are worth what the selling clubs are asking for.
Ake is a good player, but if Newcastle have other areas to invest in, they shouldn’t break the budget for him.