Nathan Ake will be staying at Manchester City after his move to Chelsea fell through.
The defender played an important role for Pep Guardiola last season, filling in at left-back where has played at various times in his career. He memorably made a goal-line clearance against Arsenal on New Year’s Day prior to Rodri’s last-gasp winner as City went on to win the league by a point.
He also did a job against Antoine Griezmann against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League. However, he is not the answer Guardiola is looking for amid his left-back shortfall.
READ MORE: Nathan Ake will stay at Man City after Chelsea talks collapse
With Oleksandr Zinchenko nearing a move to Arsenal and Benjamin Mendy unavailable, the City boss is at risk of not having a back-up for Joao Cancelo next season. The Portugal international is a right-back by nature, although he’s done a sterling job on the opposite flank.
But if Kyle Walker is ruled out of action and Cancelo is pulled across to cover, City are weakened on the left. Ake is a make-do cover but far from the attacking threat needed in Guardiola’s system.
It’s why he is chasing Marc Cucurella. The Brighton full-back’s fabulous debut season is tempting Guardiola to jump for his signature.
City’s main aim will surely be to lift the Champions League next season and as seen last term, it’s the fine margins that determine success or failure. Guardiola must take note of the Real Madrid collapse and learn from it - both crosses for the late regulation time goals came from the left, after all.
Ake is a solid centre-half but not a world-class left-back by any means. It’s why, despite having an extraordinary transfer window already, securing Cucurella - or another out-and-out left-back - is a must this summer.
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