Tottenham are set to make a £40 million swoop for Bournemouth defender Nathan Ake, according to The Sun.
The 24-year-old Dutchman played in every one of the Cherries’ Premier League matches this season, and is regarded as a potential replacement for Toby Alderweireld, who has just one year left on his contract.
Ake has made 10 appearances or the Dutch national team, and signed for Bournemouth from Chelsea for £20 million after an initial loan spell on the south coast.
Good move for Tottenham?
Ake is the real deal. The Dutchman is a fantastic defender, and one who could go all the way to the very top. He isn’t the most physically imposing of stoppers, so his reading of the game has to be first rate, and his calmness on the ball makes him a wonderful asset. You could see him fitting in well with Mauricio Pochettino’s side and at 24, he could be a brilliant long term replacement for Alderweireld or the ageing Jan Vertonghen. £40 million isn’t cheap, but for a player of his quality, it seems like a fair price in today’s market. This would be a good signing, no doubt about it.
This is Futbol rating: 9/10
Likely to happen?
It depends really. You can’t see Daniel Levy going out and spending money unnecessarily, so you would fancy that he will only crack on with a bid for Ake if Alderweireld does leave the club. That seems like it could happen, although it also feels less likely than it did in January. Should the Belgian leave, however, expect a bid from Spurs. Arguably, they should make a move regardless, but knowing Levy, they probably won’t.
This is Futbol rating: 7/10