Town are reported to have made a late approach to Ajax to try to gazump Birmingham City’s loan move for striker Chuba Akpom.

The 29-year-old was due to undergo a medical at St Andrew’s today but, according to Sky Sports, the Blues have made a late push to sign the former Middlesbrough frontman.

The Midlanders, who Town travel to face in their Championship opener on Friday, are believed to have agreed a season-long loan with an option to buy at the end of the campaign for £7 million should the win promotion to the Premier League.

Akpom’s former club Boro and Greek side Olympiacos are also believed to be interested in the one-time Arsenal trainee.

According to Dutch reporter Mike Verweij, the Blues are looking to buy rather than loan Akpom.

If a deal is agreed with more than one side, then the player will make the decision on where he will play his football in 2025/26.

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 Boro for £2.75 million, returning to PAOK on loan for 2021/22, before 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.

Photo: Stefan Koops - EYE4images via Reuters Connect

barrystedmunds added 11:21 - Aug 4 Had to check there that I was on the Town site given the amount of negativity and “informed insight” that’s doing the rounds today!!!
3

TomCruise added 11:28 - Aug 4 This would be a good signing. Happy if this comes off.
6

ThatMuhrenCross added 11:29 - Aug 4 What a bunch of spoilt cry-babies we've become! In the Evans era fans would have been having a wet dream over something like this happening, and now suddenly it's not good enough! I believe Hirst is good enough to be our main striker, but Akpom is more than adequate back-up at this level.
4

RobITFC added 11:36 - Aug 4 Apparently he has postponed his medical at Birmingham
2

billlm added 11:36 - Aug 4 Freddysteady, I get what you mean he's been available all summer, think we're in desperate waters again regarding are ABC recruits, just doesn't happen for town on this side of our progression God knows who are number one striker was but clearly missed out, having said all this he's a very good player as a 10 or striker, I'd be happy with him,
1

TownSupporter added 11:41 - Aug 4 Hirst is a good striker indeed. The concern is his injury record unfortunately. Fingers crossed he can have as good run injury free.
2

VitalSigns added 11:41 - Aug 4 He was a real handful for defences in that good year at Middlesbrough. His record since then is a bit mixed. Has he had a full preseason? Is he fit and match ready ? Could be a good signing.
2

ArnieM added 11:42 - Aug 4 Excellent news!! Makes a change for us to do something like this, and I hope it comes off, and more importantly that the player actually does want to join us. COYBSSS
3

tempzzzz added 11:59 - Aug 4 much rather this than the unproven Spanish fella
1

Monkey_Blue added 12:00 - Aug 4 Stop moaning… he would be a good signing.
0

muhrensleftfoot added 12:02 - Aug 4 Why are there so many negative comments about our transfer activity. The window doesn't close until 1st Sept. Talented Premier League youngsters will be available for loan towards the end of the window. In any case Hirst is a top striker for the Championship. Ali has had a good pre-season and now injury free. To add Akpom too would give us a very decent strike force.

0

jas0999 added 12:03 - Aug 4 Another loan … hopefully not replacing a permanent player in Delap with a loan? Can only assume we’ve failed to do a lot of permanent business and will now settle for a team of loanees.
0

Paulc added 12:03 - Aug 4 Thank god we've got people in this group who clearly have all the insider knowledge like poet and Darkhorse28 who thinks"The sooner Gamechanger move on, the sooner we can (hopefully) focus our resources in these areas and move forwards." What an astonishing statement to make!
3

poet added 12:08 - Aug 4 ThatMurhenCross. What you have to bear in mind is that there are probably quite a few punters on this site who publicly supported and defended Evans, whilst he systematically eroded this club. Their naivety was astounding. One or two user-names spring to mind, although out of embarrassment, I’ve no doubt many are now using a different ones. The genuine fans protested, and highlighted his poor stewardship, until he sold up and left. There’s nothing wrong with identifying mistakes, on the contrary, fans do it, because they want the best from their club, and are prepared to speak out, despite childish remarks being made about their posts.

0

ottovonbismark added 12:11 - Aug 4 Something just isn't right within the club, I can't quite put my finger on it but we don't seem to operate effectively or efficiently when it comes to transfers. As mentioned by a previous poster the lack of communication from Gamechanger (what a name!) is suspicious and creates a vacuum. We are regularly turned down by players, and could well be by Akpom. Morale must be low within the club.

0

Bazza8564 added 12:11 - Aug 4 The fact that this has not been reported before DOES NOT man we haven't been targeting this guy for some time. The cynicism on here is unreal, why don't people who are so unhappy with us p*** off back and support a league one club, because thats where we would be without Gamechanger. Let the club do their job and remember we have another 4 weeks of the windo. The season does NOT end on friday

3

Richhibb added 12:20 - Aug 4 Transfer windows are a juggling act as we may be in a different situation if other things drop or others are sold. But from what I can see on his highlight real he is strong, keeps the ball well, gets others involved and can score. At £7m he would be well worth it. Plays in the 10 and potentially wide forward too. Get it done! Certainly don't want him on the Birmingham team sheet Friday

1

Carberry added 12:22 - Aug 4 Panic setting in.
0

oioihardy added 12:31 - Aug 4 I had patience, but this kinda shows me we had 0 st targets .. and now are being hopeful and taking aim for anyone Recruitment team needs a massive overhaul
-1

Bert added 12:40 - Aug 4 Ashton must smile if he looks at this forum. So many people knowing more than he does. Town never provide a running commentary on prospective purchases. I know we are all a bit jittery about the need for another striker and midfielder but come on, all EFL clubs are chasing the same pool of players when they become available. If Birmingham were to get this player, are they panic buying ? He looks a decent player and would give us something different but only those in the game really know..

1

cardinaldom88 added 12:45 - Aug 4 It would appear that too many people think the transfers, negotiations and signing of players is as simple as playing FC24. Things take time, it’s not as simple as Ipswich target a player so he is going to sign. Just a few seasons ago we wouldn’t have been anywhere near signing someone from a team that was playing in Europe last year, yet now we bemoan that he’s not good enough or it’s desperation. Seriously, when did our supporters become like Chelsea fans? There is such negativity on this forum from some quarters, that I wonder why they even suggest that they support Ipswich. If we get him, if we are in for him, Akpom would be a good addition to our squad while hopefully getting one over on the serious rival that is BCFC.

3

WhoisJimmyJuan added 12:47 - Aug 4 The real sign of panic is all the sniping at each other on here. Very depressing. It seems to have got a lot worse of late, not sure if it is a reaction to relegation or panic about signings. Ive been guilty of sniping in the past I admit but Ive stopped of late as its getting silly on here
1

benji86 added 12:49 - Aug 4 Might be a good signing but we look to be struggling to find someone to fit the profile... We should of been looking at Luka Jovic, but he's on his way to Athens on a free, would of been a great addition, great hold up play, brings others into play and can run the channels if needed.
0

Crawfordsboot added 12:49 - Aug 4 What a lot of negative drivel there is on here about us not signing anyone and being in chaos etc. Our expectations and targets have changed under this ownership and management and we expect to be challenging for promotion. As such we will be targeting players capable of playing in the Premiership and/or capable of helping us get there. The sort of player we will look to sign will also be on the radar of Premiership sides and these players will be keeping their options open in the hope of getting a premiership contract. As the premiership dust settles near the end of the window we will know who is available and until then we probably cant do as much as we might like. We can make the odd signing from the non premiership pool in the hope that they come good but we are looking for better than that. The likes of Norwich for example can make their signing now because they will be fishing in the Championship/Lg 1 pool of players. These are players who have no hope of getting a contract with a premiership or top championship side. Im sure we have a list of potential targets who might be available subject to variables as above. Trust the management - they have served us well since they came in.

2

Jonathan_Charles added 13:04 - Aug 4 …we need a striker in before we let another one out
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