Todd Boehly handed Jules Kounde Chelsea ultimatum amid brutal Nathan Ake transfer stance

There is still some surprise that Chelsea seem determined to re-sign defender Nathan Ake five years after he was sold to Bournemouth and deemed not good enough. For a player who has struggled to become anything more than a rotational option for Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, the defensive reinforcements Thomas Tuchel needs were suspected to be of a higher calibre.

Ake is a competent and experienced Premier League defender but probably little more, particularly with the Blues looking to replace the hole left by Antonio Rudiger who became a big presence for Tuchel in the final year of his contract.

Our colleagues at the Manchester Evening News are reporting that City will not allow Ake to leave the club unless they have a replacement lined up. Chelsea will need to pay at least £50million for City to even consider allowing Ake to leave. Chelsea have made a proposal to for Ake, a source has told .

Pep Guardiola has already told Thomas Tuchel what Nathan Ake offers amid Chelsea transfer move

Even for less, it seemed like a deal without much excitement or logic, now it bears even little point should Chelsea have to break their transfer record for a defender on Ake. This gives Todd Boehly a decision to make. Why spend upwards of £50million on Ake, who played fewer than 20 Premier League games for City last term, when you could pay similarly for long-term target Jules Kounde?

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