BBC Sport journalist shares Everton and Ajax transfer update on Chuba Akpom on Deadline Day
Everton are not interested in signing Ajax striker Chuba Akpom ahead of Thursday’s deadline, according to Shamoon Hafez.
The BBC journalist shared on his personal X account (1 February) that the Toffees are not in for the former Middlesbrough man after Daily Mirror journalist Ryan Taylor reported (31 January) that a last-gasp loan for the striker could be likely.
Everton have long been linked with Akpom’s signature, even before he joined Ajax from Middlesbrough over the summer but any move for him has been ruled out with one outgoing expected.
Hafez shared that defender Mason Holgate is likely to leave with Stuttgart interested in a late move.
Hafez posted: “Everton not interested in signing striker Chuba Akpom from Ajax.
“Stuttgart are in for Toffees defender Mason Holgate so that is a deal that could happen today.”
No Akpom need
If Akpom’s previous campaign in England is anything to go by, Everton could very much have a special player on their hands if they were able to bat away interest from Palace and Luton.
The forward was electric last season at the Riverside Stadium, netting 28 goals in 38 league matches as Boro finished in the top-four spots of the Championship, missing out on the play-off final after a 1-0 loss to Coventry City.
However, things haven’t gone according to plan in Holland with Ajax suffering a tumultuous campaign in the Dutch Eredivisie but the Arsenal academy product has still managed nine goals in all competitions which represents a decent return despite everything else.
However, Akpom is second choice in Amsterdam with Brian Brobbey the preferred striker option which suggests a move may be on the horizon.
However, Everton have no need for Akpom given they already have Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Beto on their ranks and no financial room for another striker. Neither have impressed in their goalscoring but Dyche will be looking to get the most of them between now and the end of the season.
It should be a quiet day at Goodison Park, with the appeal for the further points deduction rambling on behind-the-scenes but Holgate could be about to exit again.
In other Everton news, the Toffees want to a sign hotshot striker in a last-gasp January transfer window push.
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