Everton, Leeds linked with striker only Erling Haaland has outscored as patience pays off

Duje Caleta-Car, Chuba Akpom Middlesbrough v Marseille friendly

Everton and Leeds United are among the clubs said to be keeping tabs on one of the leading goalscorers in English football at present.

It has been another difficult season for both Everton and Leeds, who occupied the lowest spots in the Premier League table above the relegation zone last term. This time around, they are both on just 22 points, placing them in relegation danger again.

Goals have been hard to come by for both teams. Everton are the joint-lowest scorers in the top flight this season with just 19 goals from 26 games. Leeds, meanwhile, have scored 29 times from their 25 games.

In Everton’s case, main striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin is still being affected by injury issues. As for Leeds, it has been a similar story for Patrick Bamford, which prompted the purchase of Georginio Rutter recently.

Ahead of next season, if either of them can secure Premier League safety, adding extra firepower might be on both of their agendas.

With that in mind, a report from talkSPORT has concluded that Everton and Leeds could be looking at Middlesbrough striker, Chuba Akpom.

Currently the top scorer in the Championship, Akpom has 21 league goals to his name this season. In England’s top four divisions, only Manchester City phenomenon Erling Haaland has scored more.

Therefore, talkSPORT has revealed that “as many as half a dozen” clubs from the Premier League are taking a look at Akpom. Three of them get a name in the write-up: Everton, Leeds and Crystal Palace.

Palace, for their part, have been a bit goal shy this season too. From their 25 league games, they have only found the net 21 times. They still appear to be safer than Everton or Leeds, but will be aware of any rising issues to address.

Chuba Akpom could be back in Premier League

Middlesbrough striker Chuba Akpom

Therefore, Akpom should have his options open if he wants to step up to the Premier League. Alternatively, he could earn the chance by winning promotion with Middlesbrough.

Michael Carrick’s side are currently third in the Championship table. They look likely to be in the play-offs for promotion at this rate.

But if they fail to go up, they will be bracing themselves for interest in their main goal-getter. Besides, his contract with them is due to expire at the end of the season anyway, so they could agonisingly lose him for free.

However he achieves it, it seems Akpom could be a Premier League player next season, having last made appearances in the competition during the 2014-15 season. It would represent the culmination of his redemption arc after struggling to make the cut at Arsenal and having to build up his career elsewhere.

Now 27 years of age and with his permanent Arsenal exit five years behind him, Akpom could be ready to show what he can do in the English top tier.

For Everton, Leeds or Palace to stand the best chance of signing him, they will have to hope they can remain at that level for next season too.

Coincidentally, Akpom is not the only striker to be linked with Leeds and Everton simultaneously. Thursday’s Transfer Gossip relayed their combined interest in someone already in the Premier League