West Ham will have to pay £50m to sign Nathan Ake from Manchester City, likely scotching any prospect of him moving to the London Stadium.
The Sun reports that Newcastle also hold an interest in signing the Netherlands international this summer and have been told by the Premier League champions that he will cost a significant fee.
City boss Pep Guardiola is said to be keen to keep Ake but he will not stand in his way if he does decide to leave for first-team football.
We have reported previously that the Hammers have been linked with an interest in the former Bournemouth defender, but the interest in Nayef Aguerd at Rennes means there is next to no chance of the Dutchman coming to West Ham.
Aguerd is closing in on a move to the Irons and is likely to become the club’s first summer signing, although there is also a plan to turn Alphonse Areola’s loan move into a permanent one.
Ake made just 10 starts in the Premier League this season as City won the title, while he also made three further starts in the Champions League.
However, it may be that the 27-year-old wants to play regular first-team football after finding minutes increasingly hard to come by at the Etihad Stadium.
Ake’s contract runs until 2025 and City, of course, are under no financial pressure to sell. We can’t see this one happening.
Good centre or left back but way too much to pay . 30mill max for me and aguerd is a better price and player imo.