Pundit verdict on Man City selling Nathan Ake after £77m development
Man City cannot afford to sell Nathan Ake after offloading Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus, according to Gabby Agbonlahor.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Aston Villa and England attacker insisted Man City cannot afford to be left with just three senior centre-backs.
The Athletic reported last week (15 July) that Ake is now staying at the Etihad because Chelsea could not meet the club’s valuation.
Pep Guardiola has been prepared to let some of his established players leave this summer.
Jesus moved to Arsenal earlier this month (4 July) in a reported £45million deal and Zinchenko is ready to join him at the Emirates.
The Independent (20 July) reported earlier this week that Arsenal will pay a £32million to bring Zinchenko to north London.
Mikel Arteta worked with the pair, who have cost a combined £77million, when he was a member of Guardiola’s coaching staff at City.
Asked whether Ake could still leave this summer, Agbonlahor told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley: “You can’t sell your squad players.
“You look at Diaz and Laporte as your first choice then you’ve got Stones and Ake as your second choice. You need four defenders with so many competitions, injuries and suspensions.
“I’m sure Pep would not want to leave himself with just three centre-halves.”
Ake has managed just 24 Premier League appearances, including 19 starts, for City since his £30million move from Bournemouth in 2020.
He still has three years left to run on his contract after penning a five-year deal following his move from the south coast.
In other news, Man City could now sign Bukayo Saka because “they are ready to pounce”.