West Ham join race to sign Chuba Akpom amid Middlesbrough promotion worries in Championship
West Ham have joined the race to sign Middlesbrough ace Chuba Akpom this summer, according to the Daily Mirror.
The Boro striker has banged in a stunning 28 goals from his 36 league matches this season, form which has earned him the Championship Player of the Year award.
But there are now growing fears that he could leave his current club if they fail to earn promotion to the Premier League, with Boro currently in the play-off spots.
“Middlesbrough face a fight to keep top scorer Chuba Akpom if they miss out on promotion,” according to the Daily Mirror (Page 67, 28 April).
“But the three clubs leading the chase for the striker are all facing their own battles to avoid relegation. Everton, Leicester and West Ham have been monitoring the 27-year-old former Arsenal trainee.
“Boro fear they could lose him if they miss out in the promotion play-offs.”
Uncertain future
It has been a simply phenomenal season for Akpom, who has come alive under the watchful eye of talented young manager Michael Carrick.
The forward is following in the footsteps of the likes of Ollie Watkins, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Ivan Toney in having a superb scoring season in the second division, with all three of those players proving that the difficult jump up a division is very possible.
Many top talents have tried and failed when it comes to making that transition, but Akpom shouldn’t have any issues in this regard.
His only stumbling block at his current club will be if they fail to land a spot in the competition next season, with Carrick’s men set to go down the very tricky play-off route.
Premier League trio Everton, Leicester and West Ham meanwhile are all dangerously close to dropping down a level, meaning Akpom may just be running out of options if he wants to secure top flight football.
All three clubs are in desperate need of attacking talent, with the Hammers looking more likely than the Toffees and the Foxes of staying up, which perhaps gives the East London side a major advantage in any pursuit of Akpom.