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Middlesbrough have entered the race to sign Chuba Akpom, talk SPORT understands. The Championship side are attempting to hijack Birmingham's deal for the striker. Akpom is expected to leave Ajax after he was reportedly banished from first-team training earlier this summer. It followed a loan spell at French side Lille during the second half of last season. Birmingham have already agreed a season-long loan deal with Ajax for Akpom. Their deal includes an obligation to buy the 29-year-old if they are promoted to the Premier League. Meanwhile, Boro have not yet reached an agreement with Ajax but have tabled an offer. It is now the player's decision as to which club he joins ahead of the new season. Newly-promoted Birmingham have already spent over £9million on 10 new signings. Akpom previously spent three years with Boro prior to moving to the Netherlands in 2023. During that time, he scored 34 goals in 82 appearances across all competitions. The former England under-21 international also won the Championship golden boot during the 2022/23 campaign. A return to the Riverside Stadium would see Akpom become Rob Edwards' third signing of the summer. The new Boro boss told BBC Radio Tees this week: "We've got to make the supporters believe again. "If we're all driving this thing together, it helps, but I know this is on us. We need to show a level of performance and win enough games to get their backing. "I want us to be aggressive, attack quickly, have a right go, leave it all out there. "That is the message we are getting across to the lads every day. But that's all I've ever wanted from any of my teams. " Defender Alfie Jones has signed from Hull along with midfielder Abdoulaye Kante, who arrived from French side Troyes. Boro begin the new campaign at home to Swansea on Saturday. Meanwhile, Their first meeting with Birmingham this term will take place at the Riverside in November. © 2025 talk SPORT Limited
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