The race for Chuba Akpom’s signature is hotting up as RC Lens and Ajax join Sheffield United.
Yesterday, RC Lens tabled a €9m bid for the Middlesbrough forward but that was very quickly rejected. Meanwhile, the Blades and the Dutch giants are set to make a formal offer, according to The Northern Echo.
There were rumours that Sheffield United and Boro had an agreement in principal earlier this week. Boro then decided to go against that agreement in an attempt to start a bidding war. However, RC Lens have other targets lined up such as PSG’s Hugo Ekitiké, who is valued at €35m, per L’equipe.
The Blades think they can get a deal done for Chuba Akpom for a fee of £8m, given the player is in his final year of his contract. Ajax and Lens also believe that to be the case. And according to Alan Nixon, neither team will stretch much beyond that, especially not to the £15m asking price.
Paul Heckingbottom has stated to the board Akpom is the player that he wants the most, and he even hinted at that during a live interview with TalkSPORT yesterday.
Heckingbottom was asked about how he can replace Iliman Ndiaye, in which he responded with:
“It’s pointless thinking like for like. But one thing you’re thinking is if you lose Iliman, can you get someone who scores more goals? Maybe the other bits Iliman does replace with different types of players.”
It is well-documented Akpom is United’s main target, and for the manager to come on national radio and passively demand that signing might hurry up the hierarchy to get this deal over the line.
