Southampton are now leading Everton in the race to secure the transfer of Middlesbrough star Chuka Akpom. The striker has attracted interest amid a superb Championship season.
That is according to TEAMtalk, which reports the Saints are set to test Boro’s resolve with a bid. Nathan Jones accepts he needs to improve the attacking options Ralph Hasenhuttl had assembled on the south coast. Otherwise, he fears the St Mary’s side’s chances of survival.
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Southampton are embroiled in the relegation fight after a troubled Premier League season so far. They sit bottom of the table after 18 games having won just three times and drawn a further three fixtures. Everton and Wolves have also only won just three of their 18 matches.
Southampton believe Akpom can help provide a boost to Jones’ frontline after lighting up the Championship this term. The Arsenal product has hit home 13 goals and one assist in 19 appearances. He had to sit out seven games earlier in the campaign with a knee injury.
Naturally given the goals he has offered under Chris Wilder and now Michael Carrick, Boro are loath to sell Akpom. But Southampton are keen to see how reluctant they are to letting him leave. The Saints are also the team showing the most interest in securing his transfer.
Everton are rivalling Southampton for Akpom’s transfer from Middlesbrough
The Daily Mail has credited Everton and Crystal Palace with an interest in Akpom’s transfer from Middlesbrough, too. They and TEAMtalk also add that Boro have an option to extend the striker’s contract by a further 12 months. His current deal is due to end in the summer.
Akpom penned a three-year contract with the Riverside natives to join from PAOK Salonika in 2020 for £2.75m. Now, he is the Championship’s top scorer with 13 goals in 19 games to Coventry City ace Viktor Gyokeres. Yet the 24-year-old Swede has hit 12 goals in 25 games.
Now, Middlesbrough are in the play-off places thanks to Akpom’s form. But Southampton are pushing to edge out interest from Everton in his transfer this month. While the Toffees have also approached Coventry to explore Gyokeres’ availability for a transfer, per 90min.
Akpom might finally have the chance to show his Premier League potential
A transfer to Crystal Palace, Everton or Southampton from Middlesbrough would also give Akpom a chance to prove himself as a Premier League striker. The former England U21 ace only played 27 minutes over four appearances in the top-flight during his time at Arsenal.
Instead, the Gunners shipped him out on loan to Brentford, Coventry, Nottingham Forest, Hull City, Brighton & Hove Albion and Sint-Truidense VV before selling Akpom to PAOK in 2018. Even though Steve Bruce was effusive with praise during his time with the Tigers.
“Chuba has a chance, doesn’t he? Wow,” Bruce noted, via 90min, whilst in charge of Hull. “He has a lot to do and a lot to learn. But, in terms of raw talent, you don’t have to watch him [for] long to realise the natural ability that he has. Only a few are blessed with that.”
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