Boro closing on former Arsenal striker identified as ‘top target’

Dave Tindall
Chuba Akpom, Lisandro Martinez

Middlesbrough are believed to be close to signing PAOK striker Chuba Akpom.

Akpom is said to be Neil Warnock’s top target this summer, according to Teesside Live.

The 24-year-old is in his second season with the Greek outfit. He has scored 14 goals in 28 games for them and led the line for 70 minutes on Tuesday, as PAOK beat Benfica in the Champions League qualifying rounds.

Akpom has plenty of experience in England. After coming through the ranks at Arsenal and playing four times for the first team, he enjoyed loan spells at Brentford, Coventry, Nottingham Forest, Hull and Brighton.

He then went on loan to Belgian side Sint-Truiden, before joining PAOK for £900,000 in 2018.

Akpom is reportedly going to cost Boro £2.4m. It could be a bargain if he can replicate his PAOK goalscoring form.

Warnock has been desperate to add attacking options to the team that scored the fewest goals in the Championship last season. It is reported that Boro will look to add another striker on loan on top of Akpom.

 

EXCLUSIVE: Warnock’s move for Zohore

Warnock could yet also move for Kenneth Zohore, TEAMtalk understands.

The 26-year-old Dane finished last season with West Bromwich Albion. He was previously at Cardiff for three years, where he and Warnock worked together.

Now after the Baggies’ promotion to the top flight Zohore has been told that he is surplus to requirements with boss Slaven Bilic lining up other targets, including Huddersfield’s Karlan Grant.

 

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