Chelsea
have held talks with Manchester City over a deal to re-sign their former
academy player Nathan Ake.
Ake is one of two City players Chelsea want to sign along with Raheem
Sterling.
The Sterling deal is close to being finalised, but Ake's move is understood
to be less advanced at this stage.
Chelsea are in need of defenders after Andreas Christensen and Antonio
Rudiger left this summer. The Blues showed interest in Juventus centre-back
Matthijs de Ligt, but Sky Germany are reporting the defender wants a switch
to Bayern Munich this summer with the club planning to make their first
official offer in the coming days.
Ake, 27, left Chelsea for Bournemouth in 2017 after an initial loan spell
before a £40m move to City two years ago.
The Netherlands centre-back saw his game time limited at the Etihad, playing
in just 14 Premier League games for Pep Guardiola's side last season.
Sterling agrees personal terms with
Chelsea
Raheem Sterling has agreed personal terms with Chelsea and confirmation of
his move from Manchester City is now imminent.
The England international headed a shortlist of Thomas Tuchel's attacking
targets and had entered the final year of his contract with City, who are
grateful for his service and will not obstruct his desire for greater
minutes and status elsewhere.
Pep Guardiola has repeatedly stated "I don't like to keep players that are
unhappy" and was open to allowing Sterling's exit this summer, even to a
Premier League rival, on condition that an acceptable bid in the region of
£50m is tabled.
Tuchel was desperate to add a decisive edge in the final third to cure
Chelsea's goalscoring issues and new Blues owner Todd Boehly had been in
touch with City to discuss figures and the structure of a deal.
Merson Says: Sterling would be a miss for
Man City
Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson:
"Sterling would be a great signing. I would worry about Man City selling
Sterling as you're selling a lot of goals.
"People always go to me, 'He's always at the far post tapping them in'. He's
not pushing anybody out the way to tap those goals in. There's an art to
what he does and he will be a massive miss to Man City next season if he
leaves.
"If Chelsea went and got him, I think that would be a major signing,
especially when you're getting a top-quality international footballer who is
at one of the top teams in the world."
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