Man City ‘plan to accept new Nathan Ake offer’ after Everton, West Ham latest
Man City are preparing to accept offers for Nathan Ake in the January transfer window amid growing interest from a number of Premier League clubs.
That is according to former Man United and Blackburn chief scout Mick Brown, who remains very well-connected within the game, as he exclusively told Football Insider that Pep Guardiola no longer counts the 30-year-old as a regular starter.
Ake has started just five games across all competitions so far this season, often being used to bolster the back line in the final minutes of games.
However, he is keen to play more regularly, while Man City are open to cashing in for the correct fee with interest growing from clubs across Europe.
A number of Premier League sides are also believed to be among his suitors given his experience and quality, and a January move is growing more likely.
Man City plan to accept Nathan Ake offer
Brown told Football Insider in August that Man City were open to losing Ake amid growing interest in the window’s closing stages, although nothing materialised.
The former scout, who has a wealth of experience in top-level player recruitment after over a decade at Man United during their most successful period, insisted that the defender would be allowed to leave City this month if an offer arrives.
“It’s becoming clear that Guardiola doesn’t see Ake as part of his starting XI,” he told Football Insider.
“Often, late in a game when City are coming under a bit of pressure and want to hold on, he’ll go to the bench and bring Ake on to sure things up.
“He’s more of a defensive option than somebody like Nico O’Reilly for example, so it makes sense.
“But for Ake, he’s not going to be content sitting on the bench and occasionally coming on for ten minutes to help the team hold on.
“He’s been there a while now, they know he’s dependable and reliable in those situations, and he’s valuable in that regard, but he’s not crucial any more.
“They’ve got other options in that position and he’s playing less and less, so it may come to a point where if they get a good offer, they’ll let him go.
“I hear there is interest in him from lots of clubs in Europe and in the Premier League, so there will be no shortage of suitors coming in for him.
“He’s a top player and City do value him, but he could go and play regularly somewhere else, so I think City will be prepared to let him go.”
Everton and West Ham among clubs racing to sign Ake
Former City financial advisor Stefan Borson recently told Football Insider that Man City are prepared to sell Ake either in January or next summer if they have to wait.
Amid growing interest in the Netherlands international, Everton are the latest club linked with Ake, as David Moyes aims to bolster his back line.
The Toffees missed out on him during the summer, but remain keen to strengthen their defensive options due to Jarrad Branthwaite’s injury issues.
Meanwhile, West Ham are long-term admirers of Ake and have been heavily linked with a move for the Man City star before the window closes.
However, there are concerns at West Ham that Ake is not keen on the move given their situation, with the Hammers fighting a battle against relegation.
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