Newcastle should move for Eddie Howe’s former player Nathan Ake – opinion

Add as preferred source on Google

Newcastle United desperately need to improve their defence in January.

The Magpies have been awful at the back this season, and have already conceded 24 goals. Only Norwich have conceded more.

Steve Bruce wanted to add a centre-back in the summer, but the Mike Ashley regime failed to deliver.

Now under new ownership and management, it seems highly likely that Eddie Howe will target defensive players when the transfer window opens on New Year’s Day. The club have already opened talks with Bayern Munich’s Niklas Sule according to Newcastle World.

But perhaps the Magpies should launch a bid for a player that Howe and PIF know very well.

Nathan Ake would fit in perfectly at Newcastle

Nathan Ake is a player that Newcastle should be looking at if they’re not already. But it would be no surprise if rumours emerged that the Magpies fancied signing the 26-year-old Dutchman.

There are plenty of reasons why a move for Ake makes sense.

First things first, he’s a top quality defender. That’s why Pep Guardiola signed him in 2020 for £41million. Sadly, Ake hasn’t featured as much as he would have liked in a Manchester City shirt.

So far he’s only played 20 times in all competitions since his arrival last year.

That could make the Premier League winner open to a move away from the Etihad.

He’d be a great fit for Newcastle. With so many sides playing with three centre-backs, left-footed defenders are worth their weight in gold.

That’s exactly what Ake is. If he joined the Magpies, he could play in a back four or five with relative ease…or as easy as it can be playing in a Newcastle defence at the moment.

Eddie Howe signed Ake twice

Howe will know all about Ake’s ability, having worked with him twice at Bournemouth. The defender first joined the Cherries on loan in 2016, then permanently a year later for a then club record fee of £20million.

When the Dutch international’s loan deal ended, Howe said: “He’s done so well.”

But Howe isn’t the only Newcastle figure who knows all about Ake. He was reportedly one of PIF’s targets last year when takeover talk first emerged.

According to the Chronicle last year, the new owners wanted to sign Ake and Ferran Torres – two players who ended up joining Manchester City.

But while Torres is thriving, Ake is stagnating.

So could Newcastle help resurrect Ake’s career? He would be a sensational signing by the Magpies and a welcome arrival. Howe likes him, PIF wanted him previously. A move makes perfect sense.