Birmingham City reportedly still haven’t given up hope of signing Ajax forward Chuba Akpom, despite the 29-year-old having been in Suffolk to undergo a medical ahead of a loan move this evening.

According to Sky Sports News and Voetbal International, the Midlanders have opened talks with the Eredivisie side regarding a permanent deal but with no official bid so far having been made.

Earlier today, Akpom was due to undergo a medical at Birmingham, a loan deal, plus a £7 million obligation to buy if the newly promoted League One champions win promotion to the Premier League in the season ahead, having been agreed with the Amsterdam club.

However, the Blues then matched those terms and Akpom decided he preferred a move to Town and is understood to have been at the club this evening for a medical. Akpom’s former club Boro and Greek side Olympiacos were also believed to have been interested in the one-time Arsenal trainee.

Whether Birmingham’s last-gasp attempt to reinvigorate their move is successful remains to be seen, but the Blues are believed to remain favourites as it stands and the club are said to be confident of completing the switch.

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.

Photo: Stefan Koops - EYE4images via Reuters Connect

algarvefan added 23:04 - Aug 4 This is gonna add spice to the opening game whatever the outcome, choose wisely and come to Towen.
11

danchances22 added 23:06 - Aug 4 Is he really worth all this hassle and fight? Questionable.
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Paulc added 23:06 - Aug 4 Ed - Time to step in son, make the call.
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armchaircritic59 added 23:30 - Aug 4 And in the blue corner, fighting out of Suffolk, it's Ipswich Town, in the er, blue corner (!) fighting out of the West Midlands, it's Birmingham City. On points or a knock out? On a more serious note, I've had a good look at Akpom's stats on a website I mentioned in another post. Perhaps unsurprisingly, I'd say there are good and not so good points. One of those where I wouldn't mind either way. May battle commence!

3

itfctilidie added 23:32 - Aug 4 Danchances - two highly rated young managers seem to think it is worth it. So is it really that questionable?
4

runningout added 23:32 - Aug 4 Not fussed either way
-10

tetchris added 23:39 - Aug 4 Oh ffs can’t we get any transfer over the line now? I assume if we want him we will match any deal that Brum are offering. At the end of the day it’s down to the player where he wants to go. I assume we can match or better Brum wages offer?
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Fat_Boy_Tim added 23:40 - Aug 4 If he signs for us this story will rumble in through the season. If he heads back to Birmingham it will be talked about for years!
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blues1 added 00:04 - Aug 5 Tetchris. What are you on about? The guys been here tonight having a medical. You do realise how long a medical takes nowadays? Very much doubt he'll go to Birmingham now, having cancelled his medical there to come down here. We dont need to match any new offer Birmingham make to Ajax, if indeed they make one. Our offer has already been accepted. So really, as u say, up to the player. Nothing more town can do now, that they havent already.

10

Monkey_Blue added 00:13 - Aug 5 Ajax are looking to move him on so it all comes down to Akpom who could simply say he wants to come to us. Ajax then have the choice of the deal they did with us or no deal at all. I’m surprised at Birmingham. The player has said when all is equal he would rather play for us than them so I’m not sure what offering Ajax more cash is supposed to achieve.
3

Ianseamark added 00:47 - Aug 5 You know that for sure Denny 32 do you?
0

armchaircritic59 added 01:06 - Aug 5 tetchris, we can't physically stop any club making an offer for him, including Birmingham again. Until the deal is done one way or another, it's a case of, it's not over till it's over.
0

Tampa_Florida_Blue added 02:16 - Aug 5 Having just watched his video and can say he got a bit of Delap and Hirst in him. Defense is not going to like playing against him
3

tetchris added 02:27 - Aug 5 According to reports from Holland Akpom postponed the medical at Birmingham not cancelled it!
3

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 04:49 - Aug 5 Well, there's a surprise! No it isn't. I would have bet money on this latest twist. Predictable.
0

WhoisJimmyJuan added 07:11 - Aug 5 Irs possible these deals are taking longer than they used to to persuade, agree etc because we are going after a much higher pedigree of player now, much more competition. Not necessarily that Ashton and co are no good at it anymore. The days of signing Oli Hawkins quickly are long gone
6

Magic8 added 07:12 - Aug 5 To me to you to me to you...
1

wischip added 07:22 - Aug 5 There's only one way to solve this.....has anyone got Harry Hill's phone number ?
0

Dissboyitfc added 07:23 - Aug 5 well said whoisjimmyjuan. Not sure why the moaning who do some of you think we are going to sign? A proven top flight 25 goals a season striker will be out of a budget and wouldn't choose to come here anyway ATM we cant offer premier football or european football! An unproven youngster to develop like the Spanish guy? people still moaning then. Pablo was only a very raw youngster when he signed, something like 1 in 10 goals ratio in senior football, he turned out to be a club legend! All those slating Ashton, need to give there head a little wobble, i reckon he's got a tough job trying to get in the right calibre of player!

7

Dissboyitfc added 07:23 - Aug 5 well said whoisjimmyjuan. Not sure why the moaning who do some of you think we are going to sign? A proven top flight 25 goals a season striker will be out of a budget and wouldn't choose to come here anyway ATM we cant offer premier football or european football! An unproven youngster to develop like the Spanish guy? people still moaning then. Pablo was only a very raw youngster when he signed, something like 1 in 10 goals ratio in senior football, he turned out to be a club legend! All those slating Ashton, need to give there head a little wobble, i reckon he's got a tough job trying to get in the right calibre of player!

0

MickMillsTash added 07:46 - Aug 5 This guy looks a handful, I always thought he was a Number 9 but most of that highlight reel shows him coming to feet, maybe he would play as a Number 10 alongside Hirst, that would seem to be a threatening partnership. Not sure if clips vs Go Ahead Eagles are super useful but he has done it in this league before. Get the army to man all escape routes from Suffolk and don't let him leave until he has signed.

0

Len_Brennan added 08:00 - Aug 5 I was in Birmingham for work in December 2001, and went to St Andrews for their evening game v Crystal Palace, which featured Trevor Francis as manager of Crystal Palace, having recently been sacked as manager of Birmingham City. It also featured Steve Bruce as manager of Birmingham City, to which he had just been appointed, having been aggresively poached from Crystal Palace. Suffice to say, it was a very spicy affair. Friday's match is now building up to having a very similar atmosphere!

0

bluesissy added 08:10 - Aug 5 Let the itfc soap opera continue...
1

kiwiblue added 08:32 - Aug 5 If we hold out another 2 months he will be 30 and worth less....
1

branchini1979 added 08:42 - Aug 5 Sorry if i have missed it, but the new bid from Birmingham is a permanent deal, so Ajax will prefer that over a loan. Of course the player has to agree and can turn down and then Ajax will have to think about the loan option again, but yes i believe Birmingham going for a permanent deal will make things interesting. How much does Akpom want to be here?
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