Chelsea consider bringing Ake back

Chelsea are considering the possibility of bringing Nathan Ake back to their ranks from Manchester City as they seek replacements for departed central defenders, according to Sky Sports.

Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen, both significant players for Chelsea under Thomas Tuchel until now, have left as free agents and are set to become fierce El Clasico rivals, with Rudiger confirmed as a new Real Madrid player and Christensen on the verge of joining Barcelona. Both players have left Stamford Bridge as free agents following the expiration of their respective contracts.

Ake joined Chelsea from Feyenoord at the Under-18 level. Never a regular member of the team, he spent his time on loans with Reading, Watford and Bournemouth, before the Cherries signed him permanently 2017. Three years later, Manchester City came for his services with Pep Guardiola keen to boost his defensive ranks.

But like at Chelsea before, Ake hasn’t exactly managed to impress at the Etihad, with Aymeric Laporte, Ruben Dias and John Stones all far ahead of him in the pecking order in the heart of defence. He has occasionally filled in at left back, but with the club currently set to sign Marc Cucurella from Brighton and Hove Albion, that path to regular football will also become difficult to navigate soon.