Glen Johnson has told Chelsea that Nathan Ake would not be a suitable replacement for Antonio Rudiger.
The latter recently signed for Real Madrid on a free transfer, meaning Thomas Tuchel is searching for a new left-sided central defender this summer.
In recent days, Ake has emerged as a top target for the Blues, despite the club selling him for £20million in 2017.
London reported on Thursday that Chelsea were readying a £30m bid for the 27-year-old defender.
Our colleagues at the Manchester Evening News are reporting that City are reluctant to allow Ake to leave the club.
The Premier League champions will only allow the Netherlands international to depart should they find a suitable replacement, and at least £50m is offered.
The news that Chelsea are pursuing a move for Ake has not gone down well on social media.
Many seem underwhelmed by the Blues’ attempt to re-sign the Dutchman – something Johnson agrees with.
“Speaking to GGRecon, Johnson was asked whether Chelsea fans would feel”underwhelmed” if Ake was the man to replace Rudiger.
The former Blues right-back said: “Yes, definitely.
“No disrespect to Ake, but I think most people were surprised when he went to Manchester City, certainly for that amount of money [£40m]. Put it this way, he didn’t blow my mind when he was at Bournemouth. He’s just ‘OK’.”.
“Then we saw the amount of money for him to go to City, and it was like: ‘Jesus, where have they seen that?!’. I don’t think he’s a suitable replacement for Rudiger at all.”
The former Chelsea defender has only played 24 times in the Premier League across the last two seasons combined since moving to the Etihad Stadium, but Pep Guardiola is well aware of the Dutchman’s importance to the star-studded squad. “Speaking to Man City’s official website in April, Guardiola said this about Ake:”He is so reliable.