Michael Carrick has confirmed Middlesbrough intend to reward Chuba Akpom with a new contract. The striker was of interest to Everton and Southampton for a transfer in January.
That is according to The Northern Echo, which quotes Carrick confirming there are no talks in place yet. But Boro intend to open negotiations with the striker’s representatives in the coming months. Akpom is also happy at the Teesside outfit, whom he joined back in 2020.
Middlesbrough face crunch talks with Akpom over his future with the 27-year-old’s current contract expiring in June 2024. Riverside chiefs only handed the forward a three-year deal to join from PAOK Salonika. But his terms afforded Boro an option to extend it by one year.
Yet Akpom is now in line for a long-term extension and Middlesbrough hope to agree on a new contract. He has been fundamental to the North East natives’ push for promotion into the Premier League this term. The forward has scored 19 goals in 27 Championship games.
No other second-tier player has scored more than 15 times so far this season. Akpom also accounts for 34% of Middlesbrough’s 56 goals as a team to rank third in the table. Carrick’s side trail Sheffield United for an automatic promotion spot by seven points after 34 games.
Carrick voices Middlesbrough’s contract stance after Everton’s Akpom interest
Akpom’s possibly promotion-clinching form for Middlesbrough also interested Everton in a transfer. The Daily Mail claimed that the Toffees, Crystal Palace and Southampton were all monitoring the attacker for a mid-season move. But Boro would fend off the top-flight trio.
Interest from the likes of Everton could resurface if Akpom does not sign a new contract at Middlesbrough before the next transfer window. He will likely be among the most sought-after strikers without a new deal given his remarkable form so far this season on Teesside.
But Carrick has confirmed that while Middlesbrough are not yet in talks with Akpom, Boro plan to hold crunch talks with the striker’s representatives about a new contract this term.
“Sitting here, no there is nothing to update on right now,” Carrick said. “Listen, Chuba is obviously doing great for us and it’s something we are looking at between now and the end of the season.”
Carrick continued: “He’s done great, and we say this every week, but we’re always talking about him and for good reasons. He’s got a big part to play between now and the end of the season and we’re looking forward to seeing that between now and then.”
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