Defending La Liga: Defending La Liga champions FC Barcelona have suffered a setback in their attempts to sign Nathan Ake to bolster their defence as former English champions Manchester City have demanded a hefty transfer fee to let go of the Dutch defender.
Barcelona have faced many issues with their backline in the first half of the season and have launched an all-out attempt to get defensive reinforcements in the January transfer window. In that respect, Ake has emerged as the right option for the Spanish giants as he is left-footed, comfortable as a centre-back, and capable of filling in at left-back when required, an attribute that adds tactical flexibility.
Despite these attributes, Ake has not been able to nail down a starting role under Pep Guardiola, even though his performances with the Netherlands show he can operate at a high international level.
