Nathan Aké next? Five players who rediscovered their youth and how they coped

If Chelsea sign Nathan Ake, they have to hope it goes better than the last time they bought a former youngster.

Here are five players who have returned to where it all began, with varying results…

Paul PogbaIf Sir Alex Ferguson was still in charge in 2016, United certainly wouldn't have bought Pogba from Juventus for £89million. Fergie felt Pogba showed him and the club a 'disrespect' when he left Old Trafford in 2012, with the manager believing the young midfielder was an 'extraordinary talent' but also a ' dreamer".

How right he was. As Jose Mourinho found out the hard way. Mourinho tried to appease Pogba, even after first trying to plot an exit, by handing the midfielder the vice-captain position. It was a fragile peace that was shattered when Mourinho called the record signing a "virus".

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also struggled to tease Pogba's consistency, while Ralf Rangnick didn't bother to try as the player mentally checked long before his second start as a free agent. By then most United fans had heard of Pogba, and for those who still needed it, The Pogmentary arrived.

The Pogmentary proves that Manchester United are well rid of the drama of Paul Pogba…

Romelu Lukaku"I came here as a kid who had a lot to learn, now I'm coming back with a lot of experience and more mature. I supported Chelsea when I was a kid and now be back and try to help them win more titles is an amazing feeling."

This feeling lasted only a few months before Lukaku felt like going somewhere else. He was back at Chelsea as their record signing left the club in 2014 after three years as a young pretender to Didier Drogba's throne. He only managed 10 appearances before a couple of loans and, eventually, a £28m move to Everton.

He thrived there, which convinced Man Utd to shell out £75m in 2017. Chelsea were also keen at the time, but opted for Old Trafford instead. Much to his and United's regret.

Inter took him out of United's hands, and in Italy he restored his credentials as a top goalscorer. Was he finally ready to become one of the world's greatest hitmen?

No. He fell apart spectacularly at Chelsea while openly flirting with his ex. Inter waited until the end of the season before dropping Chelsea's pants again while borrowing Lukaku for the season.

Gerard PiqueContrary to the evidence provided by the first two examples in this list, buying out former young players isn't always a disaster. Sometimes this player becomes president of the club.

That seemed to be the plan for Pique - at least until recently, with the defender now mired in allegations over his private life while Xavi reportedly has no use for the veteran centre-back.

But Pique had been a mainstay at the back for Barca. He returned to the Nou Camp in 2008 after failing to break the Vidic-Ferdinand partnership at the heart of United's defence. Difficult concert. But Pique returned after four years away from his boyhood club and immediately became a first-team regular. In 14 seasons so far, the 35-year-old has won eight La Liga titles and the Champions League three times.

Cesc FabregasFabregas went through La Masia finishing school at the same time as Pique but the midfielder arrived in England in 2003, slightly earlier than his team-mate.

At Arsenal, Fabregas established himself as one of the best young midfielders in Europe. It didn't take long for Barca to recognize what they had lost and soon the Catalans began a protracted chase, irritating Arsenal and Arsene Wenger. But it always seemed like resistance was futile, especially in the days when Barca were decisive in the transfer market, unlike those days when they keep writing checks that their bank can't cash.

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It took two years and around £35million, but Barca finally got their boy back as a man. However, Fabregas struggled to establish himself as a first-choice midfielder - hardly surprising with Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets. Barca therefore sent Cesc back to London while getting his money back, but the Spain international returned to undertake 'unfinished business in the Premier League' with Jose Mourinho's Chelsea rather than Arsenal.