Nathan Ake's Bournemouth future could be extended, with manager Eddie Howe looking to keep the 21-year-old at the Vitality Stadium after January in a £10m deal.
Ake is on loan from Chelsea, but has been a rock at the heart of the Cherries' defence and has enjoyed regular first-team football since his arrival.
Nathan Aké has now scored 3 goals in his last 6 Premier League games.
Backseat driver. pic.twitter.com/xCP0yOf018
Howe wants to keep the Dutchman at the club because of his excellent form, and the player would be unlikely to enjoy such generous playing time at Stamford Bridge against the likes of the soon-to-returnKurt Zouma and summer returnee Andreas Christiansen.
The current deal does give Chelsea a clause to bring Ake back to the club in January, with Antonio Conte determined to bring new defensive reinforcements in the transfer window. Leonardo Bonucci has signed a new five-year contract at Juventus, and Virgil van Dijk looks set to stay at Southampton.
Southampton will refuse to sell Virgil van Dijk in January https://t.co/ycKuCDVH1C
There is a clause in the loan deal where they can recall Nathan next month," Howe confessed to theSun.
But we hope the fact that he is playing regularly and doing very well for us will mean that he will stay."
Up next - Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge! #mondaymotivation pic.twitter.com/fYz6NbVFBq
We will have to wait and see what happens but he is defending very well, his positioning is excellent, he uses the ball well and he can be very pleased with his work.�
Handily for Howe, he has the perfect opportunity to discuss the matter with Conte when Bournemouth travel to Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day in the Premier League - maybe it would help negotiations if Ake doesn't lead his side to a clean sheet and score a hat-trick!