The Blues sold Ake to Bournemouth for £20m in 2017 following a successful loan on the south coast. He has since gone on to become one of the Premier League’s more established centre-backs and his former club had been tipped to take him back to strengthen their own defence.
Chelsea have a £40m option on Ake, but Sky Sports have reported that it will not be used this month. The same story also reveals diminishing interest in Wilson, whose strong start to the season has dried up, having not scored in the Premier League since September.
Chelsea have been eyeing various forwards to provide cover and competition for primary ‘number nine’ Tammy Abraham, especially with Olivier Giroud also expected to depart. But 90min told you earlier this week that the club will keep Michy Batshuayi as a back-up for the remainder of the season and wait until summer when preferred targets may become available.
The update on Ake follows on from a report by the Evening Standard, which explained that Chelsea have reassessed the situation following extensive scouting of the 24-year-old.
It is specifically said that manager Frank Lampard has doubts over the suitability of Ake for the preferred tactical system at Chelsea that utilises a higher defensive line.
That also feeds into what 90min reported last week about Lampard’s role in Chelsea’s transfer strategy. The club legend has a growing influence in recruitment decisions and is only interested in players who are deemed to be the right fit for the squad he is trying to build.
Last week, that referred to Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha, who will not be the subject of a Chelsea approach this month because Lampard and assistant Jody Morris have decided that the Ivory Coast international would not be a suitable signing.
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Source : 90min