Ipswich Town make major Chuba Akpom, Ajax transfer breakthrough in Birmingham City blow | OneFootball

Ipswich Town are advancing in their dramatic pursuit of Ajax forward Chuba Akpom

Ipswich Town have made a major breakthrough in the Chuba Akpom transfer saga, with a deal agreed in principle for the in-demand Ajax forward amid intense competition from Championship rivals Birmingham City.

As revealed in the latest update on Monday afternoon regarding the saga via X by Sky Sports' Dharmesh Sheth, the Tractor Boys have struck a deal in principle with Ajax to take Akpom on loan for the duration of the 2025/26 Championship campaign with an obligation to make his stay at Portman Road a permanent one in the event of promotion.

Ipswich are looking to beat off the advances of Birmingham, who have also made real efforts to acquire Akpom's signature in recent days. Both clubs have agreed deals with Ajax, and the Dutch giants are now set to leave the destination of choice down to the player as he assesses his options ahead of an imminent return to English football following two years in the Eredivisie.

The Arsenal academy product enjoyed his career breakthrough with Middlesbrough during a standout 2022/23 campaign, in which he scored 28 Championship goals from just 40 appearances. That form earned him a move to Ajax, where he has been ever since, having returned 23 goals in 68 outings in the Dutch capital.

However, Akpom spent the second-half of the previous season on loan in Ligue 1 with Lille, scoring on three occasions for Bruno Genesio's side.

Ipswich Town make major Chuba Akpom, Ajax transfer breakthrough in Birmingham City blow

There have been no shortage of twists in this emerging saga over the last few days, with Ipswich and Birmingham both competing intensely to win the race for Akpom's services.

As per the latest update by Sheth, Ipswich have struck a loan agreement with Ajax which will obligate them to sign Akpom on a permanent basis for £7 million, should they gain promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt, and a medical could even be imminent.

It's now down to Akpom himself to decide, though, with Birmingham having also agreed a deal to return the 29-year-old attacker to the Championship.

Just earlier today, Sheth separately reported that Ipswich had made a late approach to Ajax in a bid to sign Akpom, who had been scheduled in for a medical at Birmingham. Sheth's previous update also noted interest from ex-club Middlesbrough and Greek outfit Olympiakos, as the Teessiders launched a stunning late hijack of his proposed move to the Second City.

However, reports have suggested that Middlesbrough's audacious attempt came too late, with Ipswich and Birmingham now leading the way.

There are plenty of moving parts, of course, and it will be interesting to see where exactly Akpom ends up next, with the Ajax frontman expected to make a final decision imminently.

Ajax's Chuba Akpom would represent Ipswich Town statement of intent amid Birmingham City interest

Either side would seal an impressive statement of intent by completing a move for Akpom, and it's the type of deal that Ipswich perhaps need to make amid a reasonably-quiet summer transfer window following relegation from the Premier League.

Town's outstanding capture, to date, has been that of Dutch midfielder Azor Matusiwa from Rennes for a reported £7.8 million outlay, while the likes of Cedric Kipre and Ashley Young have also arrived. However, Liam Delap's blockbuster move to Chelsea has cleared the way, and brought in the necessary finances, for Ipswich to make a marquee addition at the top-end of the pitch, and Akpom would fit the bill.

A versatile forward capable of leading the line himself or operating in an attacking midfield role behind the striker, Akpom brings goalscoring pedigree both on the continent and, crucially, in the Championship, having lit up the division during his final season at Middlesbrough.

It would undoubtedly be a huge statement for Ipswich to beat off competition from big-spending Birmingham, who have flexed their own financial muscles by brokering ambitious deals for the likes of Tommy Doyle, Kyogo Furuhashi, Demarai Gray and Bright Osayi-Samuel after achieving promotion from League One.

Despite Birmingham's status as a newly-promoted outfit, they are not treated as such and are instead fancied among the favourites for promotion this season, much like Ipswich, and are able to go toe-to-toe with any side at this level for targets.

But Ipswich's late interest in Akpom has thrown a dramatic spanner into the works and Kieran McKenna will now be hoping that the ex-Boro star will opt for a move to his side ahead of Town's curtain-raiser away to, coincidentally enough, Birmingham, this coming Friday night.