Newcastle United ready to pounce for Manchester City outcast Nathan Ake

Manchester City defender Nathan Ake could be on the verge of exiting the Etihad Stadium after being deemed surplus to requirements.

According to talkSPORT, the reigning Premier League champions have informed the Dutchman that he can leave the club in the coming months.

Man City splashed out £41 million to capture the 27-year-old’s signature from Bournemouth two years ago.

However, the move has not panned out as expected. The versatile defender spent much of his career in Manchester as a bit-part player.

With Aymeric Laporte and Ruben Dias above him in the pecking order, Ake managed just ten Premier League starts last term.

He was unfortunate to join Man City the same summer Dias arrived from Benfica in one of the best Premier League transfers in recent years.

It appears that the time has come for the unsettled Dutch star to move on, and the Cityzens are ready to cash in on his departure.

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe appreciates Ake’s qualities and is reportedly keen to reunite with his ex-Bournemouth pupil at St James’ Park.

The Magpies are on the lookout for a new centre-back to strengthen their bid to challenge higher up the Premier League table, following a bottom-half finish in 2021/22.

Diego Carlos was Newcastle’s number one target. Aston Villa acted quickly to strike a deal with Sevilla and take the Brazilian to Villa Park right under their noses.

Back to square one, the Tyneside giants are now exploring several options in the market.

Howe enquiried about Ake’s availability in January, though Pep Guardiola was reluctant to green-light the move at the time.

The situation has changed now, which may lead to the Dutchman’s reunion with the man who launched his Premier League career at the Vitality stadium.

But Ake is not the only profile examined by Newcastle as they remain hopeful of beating AC Milan to the signing of the highly-rated Lille starlet Sven Botman.

Widely regarded as one of the hottest young prospects in European football, the 22-year-old has generated plenty of interest from Europe’s top clubs.

Botman was on the Magpies’ radar in January. But like it was the case with Ake, Les Dogues were unwilling to sanction a move midway through the season.

Unfortunately for Newcastle, Milan look to be in a pole position to land the Dutch prodigy.

It could accelerate Ake’s transfer to St James’ Park.

Fresh from a mega-money takeover, the Magpies should have no problems fulfiling the financial aspect of the deal to land Howe’s old pal.

Ake’s likely departure from the Etihad may open space for Inter Milan centre-back Alessandro Bastoni.

Tottenham Hotspur have emerged as the likeliest landing spot for the Italian up-and-comer, but Guardiola could spoil the deal.

Aware of Man City’s interest in Bastoni, Spurs have already assembled a backup plan to reinforce their backline.

Antonio Conte has identified Torino’s Gleison Bremer as the perfect alternative should negotiations with Inter collapse.

Meanwhile, Bastoni boasts technical and tactical qualities that fit Guardiola’s system.

It won’t be much surprise if the Spaniard makes another financial sacrifice to add another fine piece to his star-studded defence.

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