West Ham are weighing up a late move for former Arsenal striker Chuba Akpom according to the Daily Mail
The report claims that the Hammers have been keeping tabs on Akpom following his move to PAOK Salonika who he helped win their first title in 34 years last season.
They are now considering a bid for the 23-year-old before next Thursday’s deadline after watching him star for his Greek side in their pre-season friendly against Fortuna Sittard
Akpom scored four goals in PAOK’S 5-1 win over the Dutch side last Saturday to further impress West Ham’s scouts.
Akpom has kick-started his career since moving to PAOK from boyhood club Arsenal for around £900,000 in a deal that can rise to £2m.
The £5m-rated frontman has become a big fans favourite due to his wholehearted performances for the Greek champions and scored eight times and set up five more goals in 19 league and cup starts last season.
The age of this player and his valuation fit within the budget and desired squad player Claret and Hugh have been told the Hammers are looking for he ticks both of those boxes.
Akpom joined Arsenal’s academy at the age of six, made his debut for the under-18s aged 15 and at 17 was handed his Premier League debut against Sunderland.
It would therefore count as a home grown player.
Then Gunners boss Arsene Wenger labelled him a “good talent” after he scored a hat-trick in a pre-season friendly against a Singapore Select XI in 2015.
However, Akpom struggled to nail down a regular place and spent 2015-16 on loan at Hull City, helping Steve Bruce’s side win promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs.
The following campaign Akpom was involved in another promotion at Brighton, while he spent the latter half of last season in Belgium at Sint-Truiden.
Speaking about his decision to leave the Gunners in the summer, Akpom, who is life-long friends with Arsenal forward Alex Iwobi, said: “I spoke to Unai Emery.
“He just said that there’s a lot of strikers and it would be hard for him to give me game time, which I respected.
“You have to remember I’m an Arsenal fan, I’d spent most of my life at the club, I watch all their matches on television out here.
“Of course it was hard to leave, but I needed first-team football.
“Joining PAOK has given me a new life experience and we’ve got a great chance of doing something special this season.
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A very average player and would add absolute nothing to our forward line. I just cannot understand these links we need quality in at least two positions, a midfielder with legs and a winger/striker who preferably is left footed and who can cut in from the right. Otherwise I think we will struggle to make top 10. If we get an injury to Rice, big trouble, if we get an injury to Anderson big trouble and if we get an injury to Haller we are in big trouble. We need two quality signings on loan with a view to buy. Forget Wilshere, forget Yarmo, forget Diangana, in the case of Wilshere not good enough, Diangana needs to go out on loan to become the player some people think he will become and Yarmo needs alot of time to recover and there is no guarantee he will get back to his best form. I really hope we sign well in these two positions, buying players like this will add absolute no value.
You lost my support with the need of a winger/striker comment!! … Yarmolenko, Antonio and Snodgrass all play RW – and we have Nathan Holland in the youth set up too … And as for the Wilshere “not good enough” comment .. ON WHAT PLANET??? … A fit Wilshere is without any doubt the best English midfielder … the vast majority of Hammers fans know our 1st priority should be in defence. We desperately need a quality Left Back as Cresswell has never got back to his best after his injury and Masuaku cannot defend. I want him in the squad as Anderson’s cover and as matchday substitute for both LW & LB. We also need a 3rd quality CB as cover/rotation with Balbuena & Diop (Reid or Ogbonna need to be 4th choice with the other one sold) … Thirdly we need another striker and finally we could also do with a power box-to-box midfield enforcer to play in the games against the top teams. Bring in those 4 players and we’ll be challenging Arsenal, Chelsea Man U and Wolves for that 4th spot in the league.
Wilshere not good enough ??? Time to get you a pair of Stevie Wonder glasses.If and with him its a big if he stays fit he could be our player of the season
He’s home-grown which I suspect is why we might be looking at him. But I’m not convinced he’s done enough to warrant coming to the Premier League. 8 goals in 33 appearances last season in the greek leagues is exactly setting it alight. Very strong at U23’s but he never produced in any other team in England when on loan. He looks the part but if he wasn’t English would we really be looking at him?
Well he is not prolific so what can he add , would be pointless . We need a CDM minimum , and probably another striker ! COYI ⚒