Defoe urged Tottenham to sign Man City's Ake, now Spurs are linked
Tottenham Hotspur Just last summer, Jermain Defoe ordered Tottenham to sign Manchester City defender Nathan Ake from Bournemouth. The Netherlands international instead went to Pep Guardiola’s side and has struggled – but could now be included in a deal that takes Harry Kane in the opposite...
Just last summer, Jermain Defoe ordered Tottenham to sign Manchester City defender Nathan Ake from Bournemouth. The Netherlands international instead went to Pep Guardiola’s side and has struggled – but could now be included in a deal that takes Harry Kane in the opposite direction.
Ake, 26, starred at Bournemouth under Eddie Howe but following the Cherries’ relegation to the Championship, the ex-Chelsea defender left. He joined Manchester City, but has endured a tricky campaign in which he has struggled to get game time – and been injured for large parts, too.
The 19-time Dutch defender was sidelined between the start of January and March due to a hamstring injury. It has seen the left-footed centre-back manage just 13 appearances all season – but Spurs do need a central defender who can operate on the left. Jan Vertonghen left last summer.
Speaking of last summer, ex-Tottenham striker Defoe told the Beautiful Game podcast that he would “love” to see Ake at Tottenham. Now, the Daily Star is reporting that Manchester City’s £40million signing could be on his way to the North London club – in a deal that takes Kane to The Etihad.
“I would love to see him at Tottenham you know,” Defoe said last August. “He’s got so much potential. He’s technically good. Scores a lot of goals from set-pieces, he is really brave. One of the nicest guys I’ve met in football, you’d even let him date your sister. I would love to see him get to the next level and play in the Champions League. I feel he is that good, I’m sure.”
Celtic fans left short-changed by Sky Sports once again
Ake would be the ideal replacement for Vertonghen at Tottenham
When Vertonghen left Tottenham to join Benfica on a free, it was expected that Spurs would sign a left-footed centre-back. Perhaps unsurprisingly, that expectation failed to materialise. It is something Daniel Levy and whoever becomes the next Spurs manager must put right in the coming months.
Ake is perfect. While he has struggled at City, it is largely due to injuries. Given he has failed to break into the City side on a regular basis, he is likely to be available for a figure less than the one City paid. Forget including him in a deal for Kane, Spurs need to go after Ake regardless of their talisman.
Have something to tell us about this article?
