Can AFCB keep Aké?

The newspapers are full of stories about Chelsea lining up Nathan Aké for £40m this transfer window, following the clause they put in Aké's contact when he signed for AFCB. While Chelsea have their own problems in shifting Andreas Christiansen to make room for Aké, we still don't know if Nathan would rather stay at Bournemouth will his team-mates and fight on in the relegation worrying season.
How much does Aké want to stay?Nathan Aké is injured at the moment but there is no doubt that he is Bournemouth's top defender and losing him in the current campaign would be a huge blow for Eddie Howe and AFCB's survival chances. I hope the choice is left with Nathan as to whether he moves this window or not. If Chelsea take him reluctantly, it won't do him or Bournemouth any favours.
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The task for Bournemouth is to find more central defenders that have the control and alertness to danger that Aké has. Even if Aké stays now he is likely to be tempted away in the summer. He is good enough to be a Chelsea player and Bournemouth have benefited greatly from having him at the club. We can't stop him developing when he needs to try and force his way into the Netherlands' starting line up.

Advertisement Eddie Had a Dream is on sale now!Chris Mepham and Steve Cook are the central pairing that Eddie Howe will have to rest his hopes on to see out the season if Aké does go and he doesn't being in another central defender in January. While I don't worry about them being up for the challenge, the impact of Aké leaving the dressing room is what I'd be concerned with.



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Eddie Howe says he is powerless in the Aké transfer saga. If Chelsea had not put their clause in, Bournemouth could make far more money from selling Aké elsewhere. But it sounds like AFCB have their hands tied and Aké's future is perhaps going to be down to Aké in the end as it should be.