By SIMON JONES and WILL PICKWORTH, SPORTS REPORTER
Published: | Updated:
Everton are interested in Manchester City defender Nathan Ake who can cover at centre back and left back.
Ake, 30, has keen a major part of City’s backline since joining the club from Bournemouth for £41million in 2020.
The versatile Dutchman has won 10 trophies at the Etihad, including four Premier League titles, but he struggled with injury in 2024-25, making just 10 top flight appearances – and he was an unused substitute in their 4-0 win over Wolves on Saturday.
David Moyes‘ side are desperate to bring in reinforcements across the pitch in the final few weeks of the window and it now appears that Ake has emerged as a target.
Everton are set to be without Jarrad Branthwaite, who is their preferred option at left-centre back, for a period of time after he suffered an injury in training, while left back Vitaly Mykolenko also missed their 1-0 defeat by Leeds.
During that game, central midfielder James Garner was deployed out of position at left back, highlighting the gravity of the situation for Moyes.
Everton are keen on Man City defender Nathan Ake, who can play at left back and centre back
Everton boss David Moyes is hoping to bring in reinforcements ahead of the transfer deadline
Club captain James Tarkowski similarly missed a period of pre-season with a hamstring injury and Michael Keane and Jake O’Brien, who played at right back against Leeds, are the only other centre backs within the squad.
A departure from the Etihad for the left-footed Ake has potentially opened up given former Wolves left back Rayan Ait-Nouri joined the club for £31m this summer.
Josko Gvardiol is another option that Pep Guardiola often selects at left back or on the left side of central defence, pushing Ake further down the pecking order.
Guardiola has also expressed a desire to reduce the size of his squad throughout the summer and reaffirmed this belief ahead of the Wolves clash.
Asked if the squad had more numbers than he would like, he said: ‘A little bit, but many clubs have the same.
‘We should [trim the squad], but it’s difficult because I love all of them; I like all of them and they like to be here. So the situation is not easy but they know it.
Ake has been a key part of City’s dominance in recent years and he has won 10 trophies in total
‘We have a lot of players, tomorrow there will be two players on the tribune, and when players come back it will be four or five at home and of course it’s not an ideal situation.
‘At the same time we have a lot of games, every season is more and more and you have to have another squad to compete in every single game.’
Ake, who has also won 54 caps for the Netherlands, came through the ranks at Chelsea and enjoyed loan spells at Reading, Watford and Bournemouth before making a permanent move to the Cherries in 2017.
Guardiola’s side return to action on Saturday when they take on Tottenham, while Everton – who have already signed Jack Grealish from City this summer – host Brighton on Sunday afternoon.
