Nathan Ake

[Vialli98]

So what you're saying is:

We didn't want him anyway.

;-)

I never wanted him back, and most of the Chelsea fanbase didn't either.

The club most certainly did though :)

 

[crazyg]

I never wanted him back, and most of the Chelsea fanbase didn't either.

The club most certainly did though :)

That's what we all say when the player doesn't arrive at the club. It doesn't matter who you support - the coping mechanism kicks in. We're all the same.
;-)

 

[Vialli98]

That's what we all say when the player doesn't arrive at the club. It doesn't matter who you support - the coping mechanism kicks in. We're all the same.
;-)

That's what I've been saying about De Ligt, "Koulibaly is better anyway" haha.

But I've been pretty consistent on Ake from the moment we were linked with him.

 

[stablemcfc]

Happy with that.

Didn’t make any sense to sell. Our other outgoings you can see the logic (Sterling/Jesus contracts, and Zinchenko assuming we get a natural LB we can improve squad strength).

Losing Ake would have just meant the hunt for a like for like player to do a role that he was already doing great.

 

[sheepskin_tearaway]

Good news this. I’m all for the club’s policy of not wanting to keep players who want to leave if and only if the buying club meet our price (which, let’s face it is always reasonable and fair- we don’t hold players and clubs to ransom like the bin dippers, and £45 mill for a player we bought for £40 mill and has demonstrably improved int the interim is on the low side if anything).

 

[Coatigan]

Not sure about this, that fee was ridiculous and we'll never get anything close to it again.

He is 4th choice for a reason and we could've used that fee to bring in a real top CB. The question mark here is of course if a top CB would come without a guaranteed starting place but seeing how often we rotate I'm sure we could've convinced someone.

Anyway, he is still a good squad player but I feel Chelsea was giving us a way to upgrade.

Clearly the fee wasn't ridiculous if it didn't even meet the basic valuation.

You think if he has a good season and wants to move next year nobody will pay 40m+ for him with 2 years of left on his contract at that point? He'll still be club trained for chelsea, and Silva may retire and koulibaly will be 32?

And if he doesnt have a significant role and wants out, you think the likes of Newcastle won't pay a significant fee for him if he is available and looking for guaranteed minutes?

 

[Gray]

Ake prominent in the arrival for training video, I think he is staying.

Told you.

 

[It'sBlue93:20]

Looks like Pep played a part in keeping Ake - Fab said they talked

 

[abu13]

Really happy he is staying, with Zinch off then maybe he will get some additional game time at left back?

 

[SWP's back]

I’m told City had asked for 55m and Chelsea’s valuation of him was significantly lower. Ake and City both content this saga is now over.

You also told us you were told that Pep prefers Zinchenko to Cucurella so I may take whatever you say with a wee pinch of salt.

 

[hello]

Excellent news if true. The figures thrown around were nowhere near too good to turn down levels, which would be the only reason to sell. Would have cost us more to bring in a replacement who would then take 12 months just to get to the same level as Ake. He's settled here now, gives our 4 cbs a near perfect balance, also seems a very well liked member of the squad who isn't going to rock the boat. His versatility and homegrown status are two noteworthy bonuses to his value and at a period where we've got nearly a third of the squad still to fully integrate, I think it's going to be very important our defence is settled. Best scenario in my view.

The homegrown status often gets overlooked with him being Dutch but it’s a factor on any possible replacement. Either the replacement is English and the English tax is play or a further overseas slot from rest of the squad is lost and could cost even more with the English tax on a midfielder being huge.

 

[Kippaxpete]

Whether this is good or bad news depends on how sad Ake is that it didn’t go through. If he’s not that arsed then great, I’m glad he’s staying. It is quite rare though to be offered £40m-45m (or whatever they offered) for a 4th choice CB. So I don’t know if it would have been better to sell and get someone cheaper in. I don’t know. I think there were positives to either outcome. Not really sure what to think.

A number of outlets are reporting that Ake is pleased to be staying. If true, that scotches any rumours he'd agitated for a move on the grounds of insufficient playing time. While it took some time for him to bed in, Ake was beginning to look like the real deal in the latter half of last season. Any new recruit would need to adapt to our playing style with no guarantee of success. I, for one, am delighted at this outcome. Just a decent left back to be recruited now for this to be perhaps our best transfer window ever. I'm not even sure a Sterling replacement is necessary, particularly if Pep decides to utilise Alvarez - who can play anywhere across the front - in a similar role.

 

[1Basti]

bad news for mbete...good news for the people who don`t trust the youth/academy...40-50m could have been invested in nkunku,bellingham or bernardo replacement (if he goes next year)

 

[Nicholas van Whatsisface]

bad news for mbete...good news for the people who don`t trust the youth/academy...40-50m could have been invested in nkunku,bellingham or bernardo replacement (if he goes next year)

I suspect if Chelsea had been offering £40-50m, he’d be gone.

This deal is off because Chelsea wouldn’t meet our valuation, so your point doesn’t stand.

 

[I'm Blue]

I’m so so happy

 

[Protein Junkie]

Very good player glad he’s staying.

 

[Semper aggressus]

Great news if it’s true. We would have been stupid letting a very good squad player go to a rival then having to spend more on a replacement.

 

[Tangled up in blue.]

Never in doubt

 

[blueinsa]

I’m told City had asked for 55m and Chelsea’s valuation of him was significantly lower. Ake and City both content this saga is now over.

Pmsl.

“I’m told”

Aye like fuck you are ;-)

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

There's a logic to your position. I was in a very similar one. Not because I in any way underestimate what Raheem has done. Love the lad. Just because it seemed to be the right time, for him, and for us. Aké's a different story altogether. He's still got a job to do for us, and if injuries continue (him included, of course) an important one.

That's it! We have a greater need for infantry at the back than cavaliers up front!