Newcastle United

Newcastle United: Journalist sends fans exciting transfer message

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Image for Newcastle United: Journalist sends fans exciting transfer message

Journalist Graeme Bailey has told Newcastle United fans on 90min’s Talking Transfers podcast to look out for a potential Nathan Ake swoop this summer.

Eddie Howe brought the Dutch defender to Bournemouth permanently in 2017 and broke the Cherries’ transfer record in doing so, signing the 27-year-old for £20m.

He played 121 times under Howe on the south coast but has since moved to Manchester City and featured in just 24 Premier League matches in his two seasons at the Etihad Stadium.

With three established centre-backs above him in the pecking order, Ake has been often used as a left-back by Pep Guardiola, but with the Citizens looking to bring in Marc Cucurella from Brighton & Hove Albion, it could open the door for Ake to depart – and Bailey believes Newcastle will look to sign him.

Would you be happy with Ake at Newcastle?

Yes

Yes

No

No

He said: “I don’t know this, I have a hunch. I think, centre-half-wise, keep an eye on Nathan Ake. Eddie Howe loves this player, he signed him at Bournemouth, we know he’s going to become available, we know City are trying to do Cucurella, so Ake will be available.

“I think Newcastle will be in for him.”

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Howe once said that Ake was an ‘outstanding’ player who he loved working with, which you would think puts The Toon in a good position to land the 27-cap Netherlands ace.

A report from TalkSport claimed that the manager is still a ‘big admirer’, and a deal could be straightforward with City apparently telling the defender he can leave this summer.

That would certainly work in Dan Ashworth’s favour as Ake may be viewed as a shoo-in as part of a rejuvenated backline at Newcastle alongside Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier, Dan Burn and Matt Targett – and all of a sudden they have a very solid rearguard to build upon. 

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