Paul Merson has questioned Manchester City’s decision to sign Nathan Ake and believes both Chelsea and Manchester United have dodged a bullet.
The Netherlands international completed a £41million transfer from relegated Bournemouth to the Etihad earlier this week after two full seasons on the south coast.
Ake launched his professional career at Chelsea but struggled to make the grade at Stamford Bridge, despite impressing during Antonio Conte’s title-winning campaign.
Chelsea had the option to trigger a buy back clause in the 25-year-old’s contract but failed to trigger it, despite their defensive woes. United have made little secret of their desire to sign a left-footed centre-half but will be forced to look elsewhere with Ake having signed for City, much to the surprise of Merson.
‘Nathan Ake going to Manchester City has shocked me,’ Merson told the Daily Star.
Bournemouth got relegated and they let in about a million goals. I don’t think Ake really stood out as anything special there either.
Chelsea had an option to bring him back to Stamford Bridge and never took it, even though they need centre backs.
That suggests to me they think something is missing in his game. He might not be as good a fit at City as some people think.
City are not the biggest team in the world. They struggle to defend set pieces at times, and Ake isn’t going to help them there.
You never really saw hm trying to get players going or show much leadership at Bournemouth either.
It was poor organisation at the back that cost them so many points, and that’s not only Eddie Howe’s fault.
Defending is City’s Achilles heel and until they get that area sorted out they will struggle to challenge Liverpool. They still need another top-drawer centre back.
MORE: Robert Pires names Man Utd and Chelsea heroes as his ‘toughest’ opponents
Follow Metro Sport across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8291209 https://ift.tt/2XE6Eka
No comments:
Post a Comment