Chelsea bringing Nathan Ake back to the club would be an "easy deal to do", according to journalist Pete O'Rourke.

Ake spent six years on Chelsea's books between 2011 and 2017, and a return to Stamford Bridge could be on the cards for the Dutchman.

What's the latest news involving Ake?

Ake has spent the last two years at Manchester City after joining for £41m from Bournemouth, but he has struggled to establish himself in the first-team, featuring in just 24 league matches during this period.

He could now be offered the opportunity to try his luck at another Premier League club.

The Telegraph has reported that Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel admires Ake's skillset, and would be interested in bringing him back to west London.

Ake is not the only City player that Chelsea are interested in as they have also been linked with Raheem Sterling.

Darwin Nunez to Liverpool! Done Deal! Hear more on The Football Terrace...

What has O'Rourke said about Ake potentially joining Chelsea?

Chelsea are losing Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen at the end of the month when their contracts expire, so they need defensive reinforcements.

O'Rourke thinks they could land Ake, should they meet City's valuation of the player.

Talking about a potential deal, O'Rourke told GIVEMESPORT: “It’d be an interesting one for Chelsea. We all know they do need centre-back options with players leaving like Rudiger and Christensen. Obviously, they know all about Nathan Ake. They had him as a young player when they signed him from Holland.

“It would be an easy deal to do, you’d think, with Manchester City willing to let Ake leave for the right fee.”

Would Ake be a good signing for Chelsea?

Replacing Rudiger will be no easy task given what he has brought to Chelsea's defence over the last 18 months. He played a vital role in the team's Champions League triumph last year.

However, he is now moving on, and so must Chelsea. Ake could be a good alternative, particularly for that left-sided role in the back three if Tuchel opts to stick with his preferred 3-4-2-1 system.

Ake is a naturally left-footed player, which is something that Chelsea don't currently have when looking through their centre-back options.

He could bring a nice balance to the back line, and he has built up plenty of experience over the last few years at Bournemouth and City, indicating that he would not need much time to settle in at Chelsea.

The Blues need someone to hit the ground running as they look to get back on track after an underwhelming second half of last season, and Ake could be the man to help them kick on.