Inside Eddie Howe and Nathan Ake's close relationship amid Newcastle summer 'link'

With Nathan Ake set to leave Manchester City this summer, Newcastle United are just one of the teams that have been linked with a move for the Dutch defender.

Ake joined City back in 2020 from Bournemouth, who were managed Eddie Howe at the time. The centre-back also played in the same team as Newcastle hitman Callum Wilson.

Reports suggest Newcastle could emerge as one of the front-runners to sign Ake this summer - and it's clear the player and Howe have a solid relationship.

After watching a video of his Bournemouth teammates in training in 2020, Ake said: "He’s a very good manager. In those videos that’s how he is every day with his attention to small details. “On the training pitch he gets a new feeling, there’s so much energy when he steps on the pitch directly."

Ake made 115 appearances in the Premier League for Bournemouth under Howe, making him one of the key players as the Cherries achieved their highest Premier League finish of 9th, before helping them finish mid-table in the two seasons that followed.

Howe spoke to the media back in 2019 when there were rumours about Ake leaving Bournemouth. "We love working with him and we think he has got outstanding attributes. He's getting better and better in his position," he said.

Discussing Ake potentially joining Newcastle in the January transfer window, Howe added: “Am I surprised in interest in Nathan? No, because he’s been a model of consistency. I think he has performed very well for us for a long, long period of time."