Chelsea are about to purchase one of Manchester City's most productive players under Pep Guardiola, and Raheem Sterling may not be the only Blue to head to Stamford Bridge this summer. Thomas Tuchel also wants Nathan Ake as part of a new-look defence for next season, with the player interested in a move.
Until this summer it was relatively unheard of for Premier League rivals to sell to each other, on the grounds that it makes little sense to strengthen one of your competitors. City have bought players from Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham in recent years yet sold to none of them as they have established themselves as the dominant force in English football.
However, the growing wealth of Premier League teams compared to their European counterparts, exacerbated by the financial pressures of the pandemic, has changed the dynamics. What's more, City feel comfortable enough to strengthen rivals because they are also bringing in reinforcements to improve their team; rather than worry about other clubs, they are focused on being the best that they can be.
