Sheffield United are ramping up their pursuit of a number of players and could have a host of new faces in after the weekend.
The Blades are on course to complete a deal for Gustavo Hamer. The diminutive midfielder is set for a medical this evening after a £15m fee was agreed with Coventry City.
And according to Sky Sports, the Blades could look to follow that deal up with a move for Middlesbrough’s Chuba Akpom.
Sky claims that Akpom will definitely not be signing a new contract at Boro and with that, his future is set to be decided in the next 48 hours.
There is interest from RC Lens and Ajax in Akpom, but United are believed to hold a strong interest in him and he is Paul Heckingbottom’s number one choice to replace Iliman Ndiaye.
Akpom rattled in 28 goals last season in a memorable personal season for Boro which saw the club itself miss out via the playoffs.
Boro are wanting £10m or more for Akpom. However, United are believed to think they can get a deal done for slightly less, with an £8m figure closer to what the Blades board feel is fair.
Sheffield United News View: Get it done Blades!
Souza, Hamer, and then Akpom. That would bury the bad feeling of Ndiaye and Berge leaving in one foul swoop and still leave United with room to act in the loan market.
This squad needs players and Paul Heckingbottom has made it clear he is after new faces who add quality to the XI.
Chuba Akpom does just that. Yes, he is untested at PL level but that is the market United are in and if he does sign, few will grumble.
He should be coming into his prime in terms of his age and if United can get it done for £8-10m, then it’s money worth spending.