Chelsea are considering a January move for Bournemouth defender Nathan Aké, as Frank Lampard has serious concerns over the long-term fitness of Antonio Rudiger, according to one report.
Blues boss Lampard has a reported transfer kitty of £150m, and he has confirmed that he will dip into the winter market to bolster his somewhat inexperienced squad.
The former Derby boss is concerned over the recurring injury issues that have plagued centre-back Rudiger over the course of this season and, according to The Telegraph, he is considering a move for ex-Chelsea youngster Aké to reinforce their paper-thin backline.
The Dutch defender was sold to Bournemouth for only £20m following a successful loan spell at the Vitality Stadium, but the Blues have the option of re-signing the 24-year-old for around £40m thanks to a buy-back clause which was included in the original deal.
Aké was valued at £70m by the Cherries over the summer, amid interest from Manchester United, who subsequently landed Leicester City star Harry Maguire for a similar fee.
The Bournemouth defender is a perfect fit for the Chelsea side, as they are desperate for a left-footed centre-back who is also comfortable on the ball. Aké can fill in at left-back or centre-midfield, and he qualifies as a home-grown player for the London club.
The in-demand defender went off with a hamstring injury during his side's 3-0 defeat to league leaders Liverpool on Saturday afternoon, but the score was still 0-0 before his enforced departure.
Chelsea boss Lampard is also keen to bring in some attacking reinforcements, given their heavy reliance on youngster Tammy Abraham. Ex-Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud has expressed his desire to play first-team football ahead of the upcoming Euro 2020 tournament, leaving Lampard with potentially only two options in attack.
Giroud is third choice in the Blues' pecking order behind Abraham and Michy Batshuayi, and the
Source: 90min
