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Former Arsenal striker Chuba Akpom is attracting interest from Leicester City and Marseille as Ajax prepare to offload the 29-year-old during the January transfer window, Soccernet.football reports.
According to Dutch outlet De Telegraaf, Ajax have informed Akpom that he is free to leave, with the club preferring a loan deal that includes an option for a permanent transfer.
The forward, who joined Ajax from Middlesbrough in 2023, is reportedly one of the highest earners at the club but has struggled for regular playing time.
Despite being a natural striker, Akpom has been deployed as a left winger under Ajax manager Francesco Farioli, with Brian Brobbey and Wout Weghorst ahead of him in the pecking order. He has managed eight goals in 31 appearances this season but remains a fringe player in Amsterdam.
Initially, Sunderland emerged as a potential destination, but Akpom turned down the opportunity to join the Championship club.
Now, Leicester City and Marseille have entered the race, offering the forward a chance to reignite his career in either the Premier League or Ligue 1. Fiorentina and Lille are also monitoring his situation.
Leicester, currently pushing to avoid relegation in the Premier League, could provide Akpom with an opportunity to work under Ruud van Nistelrooy, who is the manager at the King Power Stadium. Meanwhile, Marseille see him as a valuable addition to their attacking options as they aim for European qualification in Ligue 1.
Akpom, an Arsenal academy graduate, began his senior career with the Gunners in 2013 and had loan spells at Brentford, Coventry City, Nottingham Forest, Hull City, Brighton, and Belgian side Sint-Truiden. He later moved to Greek club PAOK in 2018, where he became a fan favourite, helping the team win a league and cup double in 2018-19.
In 2020, he signed for Middlesbrough, enjoying a prolific spell before his switch to Ajax last summer. Born in London to Nigerian parents, Akpom represented England at youth and under-21 levels before switching his international allegiance to Nigeria in 2019.
