Town are reported to have agreed a deal with Ajax to sign Chuba Akpom on loan with an option to buy should the Blues win promotion to the Premier League.
Earlier, Sky Sports News revealed that Town had made a late move to sign Akpom from the Amsterdam club, who had already agreed a deal with Birmingham City with a medical lined up for today.
Now, the satellite broadcaster says terms have been agreed in principle with Ajax with Akpom potentially joining the Blues on loan for 2025/26 before signing permanently next summer for £7 million if Town go up, the same terms as had been set with the Midlanders, who the Blues visit for their Championship opener on Friday.
Ajax are said to have left it with the player to make the final decision with a medical at Town potentially happening within the next 24 hours.
Akpom’s former club Boro and Greek side Olympiacos are also believed to be interested in the one-time Arsenal trainee.
Newham-born Akpom came through the Gunners’ academy ranks and had spells on loan at Brentford, Coventry, Nottingham Forest, Hull City, Brighton and in Belgium with Sint-Truiden while a player at the Emirates.
Having made one senior start and 11 sub appearances, the 6ft tall striker moved on to PAOK Salonika in Greece for £900,000 in August 2018.
After two years, he joined Middlesbrough for £2.75 million, netting 28 goals as he top scored in the Championship in 2022/23, before returning to PAOK on loan for 2021/22, then joining Ajax for an initial €12.3 million (£10.7 million), rising to €14.3 million (£12.4 million) with add-ons.
He spent the second half of last season on loan in Ligue 1 in France with Lille, who chose not to take up an option to sign him permanently at the end of his spell.
An England cap at U16, U17, U19, U20 and U21 levels, Akpom has scored 21 goals in 39 starts and 40 sub appearances for Ajax in all competitions and bagged three in six starts and nine games from the bench during his short spell with Lille. For the Teessiders, he netted 34 goals in 59 starts and 23 games from the bench.
Town are very much in the hunt for another striker - probably two - to compete with George Hirst, Liam Delap having moved to Chelsea at the end of last season for £30 million, while Akpom also operates as a number 10.