BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - AUGUST 11: Nathan Ake of Bournemouth during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Cardiff City at Vitality Stadium on August 11, 2018 in Bournemouth, United Kingdom. (Photo by James Williamson - AMA/Getty Images)
Tottenham eyeing ideal replacement for Jan Vertonghen
Jan Vertonghen can’t play football at Tottenham forever. That’s why Spurs are already eyeing an ideal replacement for the Belgian ace.
It’s an open secret at Tottenham that Jan Vertonghen has been one of the club’s best players throughout Mauricio Pochettino’s tenure in North London. However, Spurs are short of cover behind him. That’s precisely why they are keeping close tabs on Bournemouth defender Nathan Ake.
In many ways, he’s the perfect successor for Vertonghen. Firstly, he happens to be left-footed. Don’t forget that he’s played quite a few Premier League matches at the left back position. That might seem like a minor detail, but it’s crucial for the way Pochettino likes to deploy his centre backs.
Ake also has intimate knowledge of the Premier League. There’s zero question that he can hold up against the league’s talented attackers. He’s a key player for Bournemouth now and there’s no doubt he can do a job for a top-six club like Spurs.
Perhaps that’s why Tottenham aren’t the only club sniffing about for Ake. Reports from England claim that Jose Mourinho wants to bring him to Old Trafford. Remember, Ake first broke into the Premier League under Mourinho at Chelsea before moving on to play for Eddie Howe.
The most important question here is whether or not Bournemouth will entertain offers for their talented centre back. In the past, Howe has insisted he wants to build his team around Ake. He certainly won’t relish the idea of parting with him in January.
However, the financial might of a club like Tottenham or United might pressure the Cherries into a sale. That doesn’t mean it will be cheap. Expect the bids for Ake to reach upwards of £40 million before Bournemouth pay any serious attention to them.
He’s still a bargain for Tottenham at that price. Signing Ake wouldn’t be the sexy move Spurs fans are dreaming of after a summer of inactivity, but it would be really good business. Not only good Ake play alongside Vertonghen in a back three, but he’d give Tottenham solid protection in case the Belgian opts to leave at the end of his current contract.
Part of building a Premier League title contender is purchasing replacements for aging players before their performances start to fall off. Bringing Ake into the fold while Vertonghen is still playing great football would be a stroke of genius by Pochettino.
