Ake is linked to us. Apparently there's a 40m buy-back clause.

If the opportunity is there, I'd strongly consider him.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2019/12/07/exclusive-chelsea-manager-frank-lampard-will-assess-antonio/

Howe is saying that his hamstring injury against Liverpool looked pretty serious. I like Ake and 40 Million would be a fair price in today’s market. Without the buyback clause (assuming this is true) I’m sure he would go for more than that. They gave us 20 Million for him so to resign him would only be a net spend of 20 Million. If his injury is not long-term then I think getting Ake back would be a very sensible move.

Swap deals are often speculated and rarely happen, but if we could send one of Christensen or Zouma in the other direction then that would be perfect.

I read somewhere that the buyback had expired.

Double.

Edited December 8, 20195 yr by chef

14 minutes ago, jack_super_class said:

I read somewhere that the buyback had expired.

https://mobile.twitter.com/Matt_Law_DT/status/1159783557977563136

Didn't we recall Ake from a loan a couple of years back, only to have him warm the bench? After that experience he may not be too eager to return.

I'd have him. I think he's better than both Zouma and Christensen.

40 million is cheap in todays market anyways and if it doesn't work out we'll get that from another club if we sell him again.

15 minutes ago, Valerie said:

Didn't we recall Ake from a loan a couple of years back, only to have him warm the bench? After that experience he may not be too eager to return.

Yes, he was on loan at Bournemouth and we recalled him in January 2017 when Conte was coaching us.

He only made 5 appearances on his return before he was sold in June 2017 to Bournemouth.

Not a significant enough upgrade for me. He's never stopped the goals going in at Bournemouth, so I don't see why that would change with us. 

Need world class, or the potential to become.

Go all in on Mancini

Better than what we’ve currently got but we should be looking at world class defenders rather than decent.

He would be an interesting acquisition, fulfilling the one requirement we are short of at CB ...predominately left side. Can cover left back too. Question though is he sufficiently dominant to take us to the next level?

46 minutes ago, charierre said:

He would be an interesting acquisition, fulfilling the one requirement we are short of at CB ...predominately left side. Can cover left back too. Question though is he sufficiently dominant to take us to the next level?

I think most would answer your question with a resounding no.

This is exactly the type of signing we don’t need.  Another bargain deal for a player who is not better than Rüdiger and who’s ability does not outweigh the cost of putting Tomori on the bench.  If Tomori is going to the bench, it needs to be because we are starting Rüdiger and a new world class CB, not because we are starting Zouma, Christensen, or Ake.  If we are going to sign a CB, it needs to be Skriniar/Koulibaly/Romagnoli or similar.

@abramovich

1 hour ago, charierre said:

He would be an interesting acquisition, fulfilling the one requirement we are short of at CB ...predominately left side. Can cover left back too. Question though is he sufficiently dominant to take us to the next level?

He's not going to be the next John Terry but he would definitely improve our defence and is a realistic target.

I also don't believe we would go to the trouble of inserting a buyback clause if there was no chance of him ever coming back. That would be a very pointless thing to do.

Sign Ake and we're still swimming in a sea of mediocrity, imho.

Ake is the Dutch Christensen.

Brighton’s Lewis Dunk is such a big Chelsea fan his dog is called ‘Didier’… after Stamford Bridge legend Drogba (Sun)

Edited December 8, 20195 yr by the special one

A great January signing IMO.

16 hours ago, the special one said:

Brighton’s Lewis Dunk is such a big Chelsea fan his dog is called ‘Didier’… after Stamford Bridge legend Drogba (Sun)

Please don’t share things from the Sun it’s a stain on our forum.

I'd buy him back, he's an upgrade to Zouma and Chritensen, and offers an option at left back. Given how difficult the January transfer window is, buy the tested players in this league.

Don't think he's any better than what we have, and would cost like 50m. So no thank you.

We have to think of Tomori's development in all of this. We would get Ake at a good price, considering the buy-back clause, and yes he may be better than Zouma and Christensen, but we really need a CB that will be better than all our others, so that Tomori finds himself vying with Rudiger to be his partner, therefore the standard gets elevated to a level closer to what we need. Ake would represent a small upgrade, yes, but it seems a waste when what we need is a far higher upgrade. Rudiger is good but he's not great. We shouldn't be relying on him so badly at centre-half, particularly as he's injury prone.

 

I say we look elsewhere.

A buy-back clause that would save us £20 million (or so) compared to a regular buy doesn't mean it's an offer we can't refuse. We shouldn't buy anyone who isn't an immediate clear upgrade just for the sake of invoking that clause.

Really dont see the point in this transfer, hardly an upgrade on the players at the club and I would rather play Tomori. We are only interested because its 40m and his versatile, not top 4 or champions league quality and will be sold again within 18months when his not playing first team foorball.

I think a back 3 of Rudiger, Tomori and Ake would work. With the frailities in our defence I think we will actually buy him back. It would make a lot of sense. 40m for a 24yr old Dutch international and regular for Bournemouth who knows the club inside out and has played with Frank.