Manchester City 'will demand £50m from Newcastle for centre back Nathan Ake' as Eddie Howe eyes a reunion with the former Bournemouth defender - with his '£80,000-a-week wages not an issue for the Magpies'

  • Manchester City have set their price for out-of-favour defender Nathan Ake 
  • Eddie Howe looks to link up with defender after spell together at Bournemouth
  • Price unlikely to deter the Magpies who are looking to add another defender
  • Newcastle are close to a deal for Hugo Ekitike whilst monitoring Lucas Paqueta 

Newcastle have been set a price of £50 million if they want to land defender Nathan Ake from Premier League champions Manchester City.

Magpies boss Eddie Howe is keen to link up with the Dutchman after their time together at Bournemouth as he looks to bolster his defensive options ahead of next season, with the player's £80,000-a-week wages unlikely to hinder a deal.

Howe initially enquired about Ake in January and according to The Sun, the Newcastle manager has pinpointed him as a top target this summer.

Newcastle have been set a price of £50 million if they want to land defender Nathan Ake

Newcastle have been set a price of £50 million if they want to land defender Nathan Ake

Nathan Ake spent four years together with Howe at Bournemouth between 2016 and 2020

Nathan Ake spent four years together with Howe at Bournemouth between 2016 and 2020

Ake spent four years under the guidance of Howe at the Vitality Stadium between 2016 and 2020 before Ake sealed a £40m move to City in 2020.


But the 27-year-old has played a bit-part role under Pep Guardiola, playing second fiddle to Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte and John Stones.

Ake has still won two Premier League titles and a League Cup at the Etihad but it is thought that Guardiola will not stand in the way of a departure, should the club's valuation of the player be met.

A move to a rejuvenated Newcastle could offer Ake a chance to boost his chances of making the Netherlands squad ahead of the World Cup in November.

With Newcastle prioritising defensive reinforcements, the addition of Ake could pave the way for Howe to begin adding firepower to his front line with a raid on Ligue 1 likely.

Ake picked up his second Premier League medal last month as City pipped Liverpool

Ake picked up his second Premier League medal last month as City pipped Liverpool 

Ake chipped in with a goal with against Leeds as City marched towards another League title

Ake chipped in with a goal with against Leeds as City marched towards another League title

Newcastle have agreed a fee in the region of £36m with French club Reims for promising attacker Hugo Ekitike, whilst Lyon's Brazilian forward Lucas Paqueta continues to be monitored.

Bayer Leverkusen's exciting winger Moussa Diaby is another player Newcastle are watching with the 22-year-old reportedly open to leaving the Bundesliga side this summer.

Newcastle were European football's top spenders in the January transfer window, splashing £94m on Dan Burn, Chris Wood, Bruno Guimaraes, Kieran Trippier and the loan signing of Aston Villa's Matt Targett.

The investment paid off as a stunning upturn in form helped the Magpies pull away from the bottom three, eventually registering a comfortable 11th-placed finish.

But Eddie Howe will be aiming higher next season and key summer signings could see the club contend for a top-eight finish next term.

Newcastle are closing in on the  £36 million signing of Exciting Reims striker Hugo Ekitike

Newcastle are closing in on the  £36 million signing of Exciting Reims striker Hugo Ekitike

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