Ake is an ideal player for us at 4th choice IMO - a good PL proven player, who's also now proved himself in our team last season, has the pace and flexibility to cover LB in a pinch, home grown, decent enough on the ball.
This sale only makes sense if Ake himself has asked to leave and has been promised more game time at Chelsea. Which I've no idea if that is the case.
I understand the whole not keeping players who don't want to be here, but selling him off, just means we have to go and find another 4th choice CB and hope they're good enough when asked to fill in and happy to sit on the bench for most PL games. We're already having quite a big change to our team and the more chopping and changing likely just makes everything clicking in place take that bit longer.
I see the urgency with Sterling/Jesus, its either now for £100m or free next season, but Ake must have like 4 years left - even if he wants to leave, we surely just say here's your price, if Chelsea match it then fine, but otherwise we expect you'll stay. There shouldn't even be any negotiating with Chelsea, we hold all the cards, set a price and if they meet it so be it, if not they can look elsewhere.
This sale only makes sense if Ake himself has asked to leave and has been promised more game time at Chelsea. Which I've no idea if that is the case.
I understand the whole not keeping players who don't want to be here, but selling him off, just means we have to go and find another 4th choice CB and hope they're good enough when asked to fill in and happy to sit on the bench for most PL games. We're already having quite a big change to our team and the more chopping and changing likely just makes everything clicking in place take that bit longer.
I see the urgency with Sterling/Jesus, its either now for £100m or free next season, but Ake must have like 4 years left - even if he wants to leave, we surely just say here's your price, if Chelsea match it then fine, but otherwise we expect you'll stay. There shouldn't even be any negotiating with Chelsea, we hold all the cards, set a price and if they meet it so be it, if not they can look elsewhere.