Don Goodman has praised Leeds United transfer target Chuba Akpom and his ‘remarkable turnaround’ at promotion-chasing, Middlesbrough, in the Championship.
After starting his career at Arsenal, as a highly-rated academy star, Chuba Akpom left the Emirates in 2018 after struggling to break into the first team.
For many, many years, he couldn’t find the right home or score the goals to make himself known.
Well, now he is cooking in the colours of Championship promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough, who are managed by Michael Carrick, and hoping to earn automatic promotion this season.
Over the course of the campaign, Akpom has 24 goals from his 31 games, which is the most in this season’s Championship, and a reason why the likes of Leeds have been looking at the player in the transfer market.
Nonetheless, former striker and EFL expert Don Goodman lauded Akpom’s performances and how he is cooking on the Championship stage, as he told Sky Sports News.
“He has finally found a home and a manager in Michael Carrick, who absolutely believes in him,” said Goodman.
“Michael has given him a slightly more withdrawn role than he has had previously. It has allowed him to find spaces and help link-up play.
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“But it’s mostly to do with confidence. I don’t think he has ever had a season where he has scored double figures, let alone the 24 goals he has got so far. It’s a remarkable turnaround. We saw something similar at Blackburn with Ben Brereton Diaz, where out of nowhere, he became a goalscorer.
“Middlesbrough are lucky to have him. They have unearthed this raw potential because he always had the ability.”
PREMIER LEAGUE BOUND
Boro will be hoping it happens in their colours, but surely Akpom will be a Premier League player again, sooner rather than later?
Carrick’s men have enough goals to try and hunt down Sheffield United for second spot, if they can’t do that, then it’s the dreaded play-offs.
If they get promotion, then Akpom will be a Premier League player again, if not, then it will be interesting if clubs like Leeds push for his signature, of course, they have to maintain their own status in England’s top-flight.
In other news, Arsenal and Wolves boost as 21-goal star opens door to ‘dream’ transfer
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