On Wednesday evening, Chelsea loanee Nathan Ake capped off a very encouraging season by being named as Watford‘s Young Player of the Year.
It may well have gone under the radar for a lot of people, given the justifiable furore surrounding John Terry’s new contract, but it was a just reward for Ake, who’s worked hard at Watford.
Signed by Chelsea as a 15-year-old and making his debut just two years later, Ake always seemed destined to become part of the hoard of players out on loan. However he was kept at the club for three seasons in order to gain home-grown status, and this term he’s spent the entire campaign on loan with the Hornets.
With Zouma likely to miss the start of the season, there could be an opening for Ake at centre-back next to either Cahill or Terry. Like Zouma he has the recovery speed to cover them, whilst they can help him as he learns the position more.
squawka.com
Ake made 20 starts in the Premier League for Watford this season, far more than he ever would’ve been likely to make at Stamford Bridge, and his performances have raised an interesting question; should he be included in Chelsea’s first-team squad next season?
Squawka understand that Ake is set to be part of the squad over pre-season, where new manager Antonio Conte will be able to get a better look at him.
However what isn’t clear at the moment is where Conte will see Ake playing. This season at Watford he’s primarily played at left-back, whilst also filling in at centre-back. For Chelsea he’s played in both of those roles, as well as in midfield, which he’s always said is his preferred position.
Although he’s unlikely to be a starter at Stamford Bridge for the time being, it may be at centre-back where Ake gets his real break, as there could be a vacancy in that position.
Going into this season the established first-choice pairing was Terry and Gary Cahill. However although he’s signed a new contract, The Times report that the club captain won’t be first-choice from next term. This isn’t to say that he hasn’t got the chance to fight his way back into the team, after all it’s not so long ago he was being heralded as the best centre-back in the league, but his position is no longer as untouchable as it once was.
Whereas Ake’s star continues to rise, there are real questions over Cahill, who made two defensive errors this season. When he doesn’t play next to Terry, the England international really doesn’t look as assured, while the defence in general looks more prone to conceding.
The problem recently for Chelsea has been that with Kurt Zouma out injured, Branislav Ivanovic has had to fill in at centre-back, which leaves the team very short on pace in that area. This is why the Terry-Zouma partnership worked so well before the latter’s injury; Terry’s experience and reading of the game perfectly complimented Zouma’s energy.
Of course this could be complicated by any potential signing Conte makes at centre-back. Squawka understand that the Italian wants Chelsea to sign Kostas Manolas from Roma, who’s valued at £30 million, with Antonio Rudiger an option as well. Last summer the Blues were slow in the market, and if the same thing happens again then they may not have too many defenders for the opening couple of games.
This shouldn’t detract from Ake and his achievements though; he deserves to be in the squad next season on merit. Aside from maybe Andreas Christensen or Juan Cuadrado, no Chelsea loanee has had as impressive a campaign as the Dutchman, and what’s more he’s proved himself in the Premier League.
Given that he’s capable of playing at left-back, centre-back and defensive midfield, three positions where Chelsea have struggled a bit this season, it makes sense for Ake to be involved. Even without European football next term, the 21-year-old should be given enough starts to reach 15 in all competitions.
That will further his development and place him in a good position as we enter the key years of his career. Chelsea have let so many talented players thrive elsewhere, so it’s about time their fans got to watch one develop at Stamford Bridge.
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