Ake close to £41m move as City spree gathers pace
Nathan Ake is close to becoming the first departure from relegated Bournemouth, after Manchester City tabled an improved offer of £41 million.
Pep Guardiola has moved for the former Chelsea defender and wants to follow the capture of Valencia winger Ferran Torres with Ake in the next few days.
Guardiola has signing of at least one central defender and believes Ake can become a key squad player.
Bournemouth’s relegation was confirmed last weekend and Ake was always going to emerge as one of the first casualties. The Holland international does not have a relegation clause in his contract and City are in the final stages of negotiations with Bournemouth.
It is understood the latest offer for the 25-year-old was submitted on Wednesday and the clubs are edging closer to a resolution.
Chelsea, his first club in England, have a buy-back option to re-sign him for £40 million, but the deal from City is an initial £40million with a £1million bonus to be payable on achievements.
Manchester United have also been linked with Ake, who missed the final games of Bournemouth’s season with a muscle injury. Ake was one of the club’s outstanding players and he is being offered a swift return to the Premier League, with the added incentive of European football. He is on holiday and expected to undergo a medical over the weekend, when the formalities of his move to Manchester are likely to be completed.
Guardiola is also poised to complete the signing of Torres after the sale of Leroy Sane to Bayern Munich.
City last night dismissed reports in the German magazine, claiming it had fresh evidence over the recent financial fair play case. City said it was a “cynical attempt to publicly relitigate”.