Will the former Chelsea player ever return to Stamford Bridge? (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
Manchester City defender Nathan Ake could be eyeing a return to Chelsea after reportedly building a house near their training ground.
The Sun reports that documents have been revealed showing Mr Ake’s plans to build a mansion near Cobham, which could provide a hint of his future plans.
Ake joined Chelsea as a youngster but only made 17 first-team appearances for the Blues before impressing at Bournemouth.
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The Dutch international’s form there saw him move to Man City in the summer of 2020, and he went on to make 172 appearances for the club, winning four Premier League titles, the Champions League and a number of other major accolades.
It’s time for Nathan Ake to leave Manchester City
Still, Ake currently has just over a year left on his current contract at the Etihad Stadium, so it could make sense for him to plan a move.
It remains to be seen whether City will definitely let the 31-year-old go this summer, but he is no longer an automatic starter in Josep Guardiola’s side, so he could very well be available.
However, it would be surprising if Chelsea made such a drastic switch from their current policy of signing young players to bring Ake back to the club.
Should Chelsea sign Nathan Ake?
Some Chelsea fans may be hoping that the club’s owners will show a little more flexibility with their transfer strategy. This team could have at least one or two more experienced players.
Perhaps these housing projects are an early sign that this could be a story to watch this summer, as Ake is a proven winner and could be a great leader for CFC’s young players.
But at the same time, it’s also entirely possible that Ake is just nearing the end of his playing career and considering a move into real estate development, so the location he chooses ultimately doesn’t matter all that much.
| Nathan Ake | Total score: 15/25 |
| Transfer fee | *** |
| performance | *** |
| performance | **** |
| career phase | * |
| The need for squads | **** |
Ake could play an important role at Chelsea, even if he is not a long-term option, so we gave this potential signing a rating of 15/25 using our Transfer Fit rating system.
The Dutchman probably won’t cost a fortune and would bring great experience while strengthening Liam Rosenior’s side’s weaknesses.
