Arsenal are preparing to tie up a second deal with Hull City to loan out striker, Chuba Akpom, to the Championship club for the season.
Manager Arsene Wenger will send Akpom out for a staggering fourth loan spell, in order to gain regular playing time rather than sit on the bench for the 2015/16 campaign.
The news comes just days after the England youth international revealed his only desire was to stick with the Gunners this season and fight for a first team place.
However, with the likes of Olivier Giroud, Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott’s recent rise in form, the chances of Akpom breaking through look minimal.
That left Wenger with only one option, to send the striker out on loan once more, despite the brief spells at Brentford, Coventry and Nottingham Forest that saw Akpom fail to find the net.
However, since his recent return from Forest, the England U20 international has picked up a hat-trick in Singapore and new-found appreciation from the Arsenal community.
Akpom also played a part in both fixtures at this years Emirates Cup, but his big moment in front of the home crowd was upstaged by new boys Jeff Renne-Adelaide and Alex Iwobi.
The duo is now expected to stay with the club after being involved in the 2015/16 first team squad photo earlier in the week.
19-year-old Akpom will follow in the footsteps of fellow youngster Isaac Hayden, who confirmed he was also joining the Tigers two days ago.
And now Steve Bruce has also drafted in Akpom, who will gain a valuable chance to mature at a club pushing to get back into the Premier League.
Hull have managed to keep hold of a number of their big names despite the drop from England’s top division last season, topping the list is Nikica Jelavic.
The former Everton striker scored eight goals last year and now Akpom will link up with the forward to front a serious promotion push.
It may not be the move Akpom was looking for, but the striker now needs to show Wenger he can do it on a regular occasion at the top level.
Akpom has dominated the stats in Arsenal’s youth campaigns, and now this is his chance to bag some goals in a league he is suited to.
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The loaning of Akpom only adds another drop of speculation on the signing all Gunners fans are waiting for, a world-class striker to challenge both Giroud and Walcott.
It seems any sort of deal for Benzema is out of the question after his agent confirmed he will 100% be staying at Real Madrid by the end of the transfer window.
Media talks are now airing in the direction of Fernando Llorente and a shock move for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but a deal already looks in place with Manchester United for the Swede.
So as Akpom walks out of the Emirates, Arsenal now have three recognised natural strikers. Let us know whether you feel we need another forward by commenting below!
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