Chelsea lining up £40m bid for Bournemouth defender Nathan Ake?

Chelsea are allegedly planning to make a bid for Bournemouth defender Nathan Ake during the January transfer window.

Having successfully appealed a FIFA ban, Chelsea are now in a position where they can sign new players at the midway point of the campaign.

While the Blues have been linked with a wide range of names, priority is likely to be placed on strengthening a defence which has only kept four clean sheets in 24 matches this season.

According to The Telegraph, their former academy graduate Ake has emerged as a potential addition, with the west Londoners said to be prepared to spend £40m on the Netherlands international.

The 24-year-old suffered a hamstring injury against Liverpool on Saturday afternoon, although that is unlikely to prevent the Blues from retaining an interest in a player who can feature at centre-back and left-back.

However, the report adds that Chelsea will monitor the performances of Antonio Rudiger, who has been sidelined for much of the season, before making a final decision over whether to try to secure a reunion with Ake.