Everton are eyeing a move for a Championship striker who is setting the division alight with his performances this season…
What’s the news?
According to the Daily Mail, Everton are reportedly keeping a watchful eye over Middlesbrough striker Chuba Akpom with the view to bringing him to Goodison Park in order to solve their goalscoring woes.
Frank Lampard does face competition from Crystal Palace and Southampton in order to secure his signature, however.
Akpom’s contract does expire at the end of the season, but the Mail claims that Boro have the option to extend for another year if they so require.
Akpom can solve Everton’s key problem
This season, the Toffees have scored just 13 goals in their 17 matches so far, the joint-third lowest in the division and this is an area that Lampard urgently needs to address before the club gets involved in another relegation battle.
The club's two centre-forwards, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Neal Maupay have scored just once each all campaign, and Akpom could be the remedy to cure Lampard’s aches and pains, especially with his recent form.
The former Arsenal striker is currently the top of the Championship goalscoring charts, netting 13 times in 19 outings while grabbing an assist and he has spearheaded Michael Carrick’s side into the top half of the table.
The £27k-per-week machine left the Gunners in 2018 to join PAOK Thessaloniki and he kickstarted his career with the Greek side, scoring 29 times and registering 13 assists while winning the league title and Greek Cup.
His form this season has been nothing short of excellent. The 27-year-old has averaged a rating of 7.07/10 via Sofascore, taking 2.8 shots per game and scoring once every 109 minutes.
His goal tally might have been even better had he not missed seven big chances and he can create opportunities for his teammates as the striker has averaged 0.5 key passes per match and created a big chance too.
Arsene Wenger once described him as “dangerous” and Akpom is finally beginning to showcase his talent in England this campaign, which may well lead to a move to the Premier League in the near future.
Lampard will be hoping he can lure the player to Everton and his signing could go a long way to moving Everton away from the relegation places, especially if he continues his current goalscoring run.