West Ham interested in Chelsea’s Nathan Ake

West Ham have joined Southampton and Bournemouth in expressing an interest in Chelsea’s Nathan Ake.

The Telegraph reports that Antonio Conte wants to keep the Dutch international at the club next season as he targets squad depth ahead of their return to the Champions League, but Ake wants regular first-team football.

Ake impressed during the first-half of last season at Bournemouth before being recalled from his loan spell. Eddie Howe’s side have since tried to lure him back to the club, both in the January and Summer transfer window.

Chelsea do hold an interest in Virgil van Dijk and with the Premier League champions aware of the Saints’ interest in Ake, they could use him as a bargaining chip in a potential deal to land his fellow countryman.

Slaven Bilic is out to strengthen his defence this summer and has been linked with a move for Chris Smalling in recent weeks.