Everton are reportedly eyeing a January transfer move for Middlesbrough striker Chuba Akpom, according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth.
After spending some time in Greece with PAOK, the 27-year-old joined Middlesbrough in September 2020 before being loaned back to his previous club for the 2021/22 season.
Akpom was often on the fringes at Arsenal as a youngster, before the striker eventually made a permanent move from the north London club back in 2018 after numerous loan spells away from the Gunners.
Now that he’s back in England, Akpom, who has 98 club goals to his name throughout his career, has found himself linked with a move to the Premier League.
In a recent post on Sky Sports’ live transfer blog, Sheth had this to say on the matter: “Everton and a couple of Bundesliga clubs are interested in Middlesbrough’s Chuba Akpom.
“Akpom is the Championship’s top scorer with 13 goals so far. His contract is up in the summer, but there is an option to extend that for another year.”
In addition to scoring more goals than any other player in the second tier this season, Akpom has also racked up the joint-fifth-highest average of shots per game in the Championship (2.8).
Bearing in mind how only two clubs have a lower rate of shots at goal per 90 minutes than Everton (10) this season at present, signing a player like Akpom could be just what Frank Lampard needs to get his side firing in front of goal.
Should Everton sign a striker this month?
Yes
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The Englishman’s overall performances in the Championship this season have earned him a solid rating of 7.05/10 from WhoScored, making him the highest-rated player at Middlesbrough.
This rating would make him the highest-rated outfield player at Everton, which suggests that the striker may have what it takes to take the step up to the Premier League and be an important figure for the Toffees if he was able to replicate his current level of performance.
Hailed for his “unbelievable” form this season by journalist Craig Johns, the former Arsenal figure could be worth a gamble from Everton this month, especially if he’s able to fire the Toffees out of the relegation zone.