During their summer transfer window, RC Lens very well sold Lois Openda to RB Leipzig. The German club paid 46 million euros, excluding bonuses, to hire the Belgian striker. But now it is necessary to replace the striker who scored 21 goals in his first season in Ligue 1. A goal still far from being achieved by Artesians. After the failure of Levi Garcia, several leads emerged, such as Habib Diallo, Boulaye Dia, Michie Batshuayi or even Folarin Balogun, but nothing materialised.
Recently, we learned through the English press that RC Lens was looking at Chuba Akpom. The 27-year-old Londoner is therefore currently on track to be the most likely to replace Lois Openda as the head of the northern club. But what is the Middlesbrough striker really worth? A young native of London, Akpom joined Arsenal at the age of six, where he spent his entire career before signing with the Gunners and making his debut as a substitute in a 3–1 win against Sunderland in 2013. training completed.
Revelation of the Greek Championship
Despite his selection with the Three Lions youngsters and his good performances with the Gunners – including a hat-trick in the FA Youth Cup round of 16 against Peterborough United in 2014 (6–1) – Chuba Akpom would make a series of loan spells at several English clubs. From Brentford and Coventry City in League One, then to Nottingham Forest, Hull City and Brighton in the English Second Division, then to Saint-Trond in Belgium, Chuba Akpom would not be able to establish himself among his clubs. Only seven goals were scored in six different loans with Hull City (46 games) and six with Saint-Trond (16 games).
Praised for his pace and hitting, the Baby Gunners failed to confirm his good start as a youth team. But it was in 2018 and Chuba Akpom would finally show his qualities during his transfer to PAOK Salonika. In his first year in Greece, he was hailed by the local press as a major player in the title race. Winner of the championship and the national cup, where he would score the winning goal against AEK Athens, the Englishman has finally shown his attacking qualities.
confirmation in middlesbrough
After scoring his 10 goals in a season, Middlesbrough took the opportunity to sign the striker. Again, Akpom would experience a complicated start and tensions with Boro’s coach, Chris Wilder, who would be sacked. But everything would change for him after the arrival of veteran Michael Carrick last January, who would put the player behind the other attacker. “The way he holds the ball, the ease with which he moves with the ball in space. Technically, having passed through the ranks of Arsenal, he acquired this base. I just wanted to free him a bit and play to his strengths.”, Carrick explained. a position that allowed him to have space and increase his pace.
The author of a total of 28 goals in 40 Championship matches, he was arguably voted the English Second Division’s Golden Shoe and a member of the standard team of the season. Which logically attracts more advanced clubs including RC lenses. With the contract ending in 2024, the Arsenal-trained player could logically be on his way out this summer. Even if he doesn’t want to go. “I want to stay. I made it clear that I feel at home here, so I guess saying that goes a long way in saying that I want to stay here.”They told northern echo,
In spite of everything, RC Lens want him as their new striker and his profile matches that of Lois Openda. The former PAOK Salonika had an offer of around €9m from Lens rejected by the English club, who reportedly value the striker at around €15m. sky game, To the best of our knowledge, the lens is doing a fine job on this track. Akpom is part of the player agency of Mophie, Balogun, Mavididi or even Bukayo Saka and Jadon Sancho.
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