Chelsea is set to trigger Bournemouth defender Nathan Aké’s £40m buyback clause in January or else it will expire at the end of the winter window.
The defender left the Blues for the Cherries on a permanent basis in 2017 for £20m, having impressed on loan. Ake has since gone on to become one of the most promising defenders in the Premier League.
According to report, if Chelsea do want to trigger that clause and bypass lengthy negotiations with Bournemouth over a potential fee, they will have to do so in January. The report added that the clause is no longer eligible from the summer of 2020.
Not only Chelsea are interested in buying back the England defender, but Manchester City and Tottenham have also been mentioned to be in the race to sign Ake.
The Blues are clear favorites to get the defender owing to a £40m buyback clause they inserted in his contract before his move to the Vitality Stadium.
Ake has made 107 appearances for Eddie Howe’s side in total and was an ever-present this season until an injury picked up at Liverpool forced him to sit out his side’s 1-0 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
According to Bournemouth medical personnel, Ake is expected to be out for more than six weeks and will miss the festive games. Despite his injury, he is still been heavily linked with a January move away.
Recall that Chelsea had their transfer ban reduced by the Court of Arbitration (CAS) last month and can make signings in January. Now Frank Lampard is keen to bolster his defence and is also looking at bringing in some attacking reinforcements.
After recovering from the opening day defeat to Manchester United, Lampard side have gone on to impress, but things have stalled in recent weeks and they have won just one of their last five Premier League games.
Chelsea remain fourth in the table but are now only three points above Tottenham and face them, and Jose Mourinho, this Sunday.
