Where does Nathan Aké fit in at Manchester City?
Even though Nathan Aké was just signed to Manchester City from Bournemouth, his role in his first season depends heavily on City’s action during the rest of this transfer window.
At £40 million, Nathan Aké seems a great value signing for Manchester City, and looks poised to play a major role during his first season at the club. Given the team’s defensive issues a year ago, as things stand today the Dutchman is City’s second-best option in central defense after Aymeric Laporte.
However, nearly the entirety of City’s transfer window this summer has been exclusively focused on another potential signing: Kalidou Koulibaly. Although Aké is at the club, training for his first season in Manchester, nearly everyone in the media as well as supporters are expecting something more. I believe that City should complete the deal for Koulibaly to truly elevate the level of the defense, but it seems less likely the more the saga drags out, which would suddenly leave Aké as a first-choice player.
Therefore, I envision two scenarios for Aké’s first season in sky blue: one with Koulibaly, and one without. If Koulibaly does arrive, Aké will play his intended role. City signed him to provide left-footed center back cover for Laporte, who has a history of injury. In addition, his versatility would allow him to provide cover and rotation at defensive midfield and even left back if needed.
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A young, solid defender with passing ability and positional versatility is perfect for Pep Guardiola’s rotation at the back, but most City fans rightly agree that he is not the player to revolutionize what was a porous defense last season. Therefore, another signing is needed, especially if players such as Eric García, Nicolás Otamendi, or even John Stones depart in this window.
However, if City cannot get a deal over the line, they will need to proceed with what they have, and in my opinion, Aké should be given the first crack at partnering Laporte. While having a left-footed player on the right side of central defense is not ideal, I still believe Aké has the quality to get it done, and that there must be stability and consistency in whatever partnership Guardiola employs.
No matter what occurs across the rest of the window, Aké will be a good signing and will help the team next season. His exact role and level of involvement, however, remain up in the air. This window will have a massive impact on the club’s future moving forward into a new Premier League season, and Aké’s personal future at the top level relies heavily upon it as well.