Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly considering signing Bournemouth defender Nathan Ake.
According to Sky Sports, the Dutchman is of interest to Mauricio Pochettino’s as he aims to inject youthfulness into his backline.
First choice centre-backs, Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen, are approaching their career twilight and will turn 30 and 32 in the summer.
The pair’s current contracts will expire at the end of the season although the former holds an option for an additional one year deal.
Ake ticks all the boxes for Spurs. He is young, experienced and courageous. The 23-year-old is also a homegrown talent which is an added bonus.
Spurs are one short of the eight-player HG quota, naming a 24-man Premier League squad instead of 25.
Jack Grealish was expected to make up that number, however, his move from Aston Villa collapsed at the last hurdle.
Ake has continued to turn heads since first leaving Chelsea for Reading in 2015. Successful loan spells at Watford and Bournemouth followed, with the Dutchman enhancing his reputation at both.
He seems to have finally settled after a permanent switch to the Cherries in 2017. The 23-year-old has scored three Premier League goals in 46 appearances since that £20m move.
He’s an incredibly technically-gifted ball-playing defender, making him suited to Spurs pressing style. Ake is comfortable with the ball at his feet and able to run with the ball and start attacks from the back.
Defensively, he is very solid, and rarely makes mistakes. He flaunts a low-risk defensive style, well-timed tackling ability and solid pace. The Dutchman frequently gets the edge on attackers when tracking back and looking to intercept play.
Should he head to North London, expect the 23-year-old to add some real competition, considering Davinson Sanchez has struggled lately. However, Ake’s versatility could potentially solve Spurs’ defensive shortcomings.
The ex-Chelsea prodigy can fill several different positions at the back, even in midfield. He could slot at centre-back or on the left, depending on the system.
The report adds that the Blues have a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ with the Cherries to be able to buy Ake back for around £40m. However, Tottenham can persuade him to turn away.
It remains to be seen whether a deal will be struck early this winter or perhaps the club will wait until the summer.
