Nathan Ake will not be leaving Chelsea on deadline day despite serious interest from Bournemouth, sources have confirmed to ESPN FC.
Reports claimed that Bournemouth had made an £18 million bid to sign Ake, who spent the first half of the season on loan at the Vitality Stadium, and that Chelsea had left the decision over whether to accept it in the player's hands.
But sources close to the club and player have told ESPN FC that, while Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe's interest in signing Ake permanently is real, there has been no formal bid lodged and Chelsea have no inclination to sell the 21-year-old.
Ake initially struggled to make an impact at Bournemouth but impressed after breaking into Howe's starting XI in November, producing a series of accomplished displays at centre-back and scoring crucial goals in Premier League victories over Southampton and Chelsea's title rivals Liverpool.
Begovic in the squad. Ake not in the 18 but has travelled - to Liverpool, not Bournemouth #cfc https://t.co/vhC0OIlcy8
- Liam Twomey (@liam_twomey) January 31, 2017
The Dutch defender's form over the festive period and positional versatility prompted Chelsea to activate the recall clause in his season-long loan deal in the first week of January, and Conte handed him his first Blues start since October 2014 in Saturday's 4-0 win over Brentford in the FA Cup fourth round.
Chelsea view Ake as a player now on the cusp of a first-team breakthrough after 18 months of significant development on loan, and see no reason to sell him at a time when Conte's defensive options are set to be depleted by the departure of Branislav Ivanovic to Zenit St Petersburg on a free transfer.
Ake has not been included in Chelsea's 18-man match day squad to face Liverpool at Anfield, but has travelled with his teammates to Merseyside.