18-goal star Everton & Crystal Palace wanted in January now wins Player of the Month award

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Everton and Crystal Palace both expressed an interest in signing Chuba Akpom during the January transfer window.

It was the Daily Mail who revealed that the Toffees and the south Londoners wanted to sign the Middlesbrough No.29 after his stunning efforts in the Championship this season.

Unfortunately for Sean Dyche and Patrick Vieira, Akpom ended up staying on Teeside, and the striker has now added to his price tag.

What’s the story?

Well, the 27-year-old has now been named PFA Championship Player of the Month for January.

It comes after Akpom also won the January Sky Bet Championship Player of the Month award.

The London-born striker scored two goals in four appearances throughout January as Middlesbrough won three of their four Championship outings, taking his tally for the 2022/23 campaign to a highly impressive 18 goals.

You can see why Everton and Crystal Palace both wanted to sign him.

It is the second PFA Championship Player of the Month award Akpom has won this season, and he really has turned his career around at the Riverside Stadium.

Akpom struggled to make his mark at Arsenal, with the Gunners sending him on six different loan spells – all of which proved unfruitful for him – before he joined Greek side PAOK permanently in 2018.

After impressing in his two-year stint with PAOK, the old England Under-21 international earned a return to English football with Middlesbrough, where he is finally starting to live up to his potential.

Everton or Crystal Palace could sign Akpom for bargain fee

Akpom’s contract was set to expire in June before Middlesbrough activated their 12-month extension option.

Nevertheless, Dyche or Vieira could still sign the Championship marksman for a cut-price fee this summer, as an extra 12 months doesn’t exactly give Middlesbrough much negotiating power.

Middlesbrough would have to decide whether to keep Akpom and risk losing him for nothing in 2024, or choose to take advantage of his excellent form and cash in while his stock is high.

Be sure to keep an eye on the Middlesbrough No.29 this summer, as Premier League interest surely won’t go away if he maintains his terrific performances.