New Chuba Akpom transfer update emerges that will affect potential Sunderland AFC move | OneFootball

Chuba Akpom is set to move on loan to Lille from Ajax, despite interest from Sunderland in the ex-Middlesbrough man.

Sunderland will not be signing Ajax's Chuba Akpom ahead of the transfer deadline, with the striker instead heading to LOSC Lille in the French top-flight.

David Ornstein of The Athletic claims Lille beat competition from clubs in the Premier League, Championship, and elsewhere in Europe to secure the former Middlesbrough striker on a loan-to-buy deal.

Scoring just three times from 16 Eredivisie appearances this term, it hasn’t quite gone according to plan for Akpom in the Netherlands so far, despite finding the back of the net 11 times in 25 league outings in 2023/24.

Nottingham Forest are said to have had an interest in the forward in the past, while according to journalist Mike Verweij of De Telegraaf, Premier League and Ligue 1 outfits have been interested in swooping in for the 29-year-old, as Sunderland were struggling to get a deal over the line before Monday's deadline.

He stated that the likes of Leicester City and Marseille were keen on exploring a late deal for Akpom, as talks with the Black Cats continued to drag on.

Former Middlesbrough striker Chuba Akpom set for Lille move over Sunderland

Everything the frontman seemed to touch turned into goals during his purple patch at The Riverside, as he came back to the English game with a vengeance after spending the previous season with PAOK in Greece. Akpom proved that he can provide a consistent number of goals at this level, netting 28 times from 38 appearances in the 2022/23 season.

That saw Ajax fork out a reported €12.3 million to make him theirs that summer. However, a return to England was possible when it was suggested Sunderland could be prepared to make another statement signing, with some reports claiming they were keen on a deal for Akpom.

Yet, in a fresh update, journalist Fabrizio Romano revealed yesterday that the ex-Middlesbrough man would not be moving to the Stadium of Light, but it wasn’t all bad news for Sunderland fans, as he confirmed they remain on the lookout for an alternative addition.

Instead, per Ornstein's latest update, Akpom is set for a switch to Ligue 1 in the next chapter of a career that has seen him play in four different countries already. He is travelling for a medical ahead of a loan-to-buy deal to Lille.

Even though Sunderland have been excellent this season overall, there is a reliance on Wilson Isidor when it comes to scoring goals, and, even then, he only has nine in the campaign.

Akpom would have been a different kind of forward but one that is capable of scoring goals at second tier level. In terms of goal contributions overall this term, Sunderland don't have a 'main man', with no fewer than nine players sat on four or more goals and assists combined in the Championship.

Romano’s update proves the club are still working away in the background, and it will be interesting to see if they can make progress with whoever the target is before Monday, to provide support for a youthful front line who are all chipping in at present.