According to reports in the Telegraph, Arsenal striker Chuba Akpom could leave the club despite Arsene Wenger’s wish to offer the player a three year contract extension. The report claims that Akpom is considering pre contract offers from Borussia Dortmund, Feyenoord and FC Twente as he decided to consider his future at the North London club.
Akpom has rarely played this season making just 4 appearances after his meteoric rise in the past two years from the academy and reserve teams. The 19 year old’s contract with the Gunners expires in the summer, thus he can speak with clubs as a possible move is mooted.
Akpom has been with Arsenal since the age of six and Wenger wants to keep the player at the club but its tough to see him get enough game time with Olivier Giroud and Danny Welbeck in the side. The report also clearly mentions that he will not be loaned out this month after Yaya Sanogo, Joel Campbell and Lukas Podolski were all permitted to leave this January.
Dutch sides FC Twente and Feyenoord enquired on the prospect of taking Akpom on loan last summer but Arsenal didn’t let him go as they bought Welbeck from Manchester United on deadline day.
It is believed that Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham and Everton are interested in Akpom but its highly unlikely that Wenger will sell the player to a direct rival in the Premier League. Signing the striker would entice English clubs as he would meet the ‘home-grown’ criteria for players.