Chuba Akpom is set to sign a new four and a half year contract at Arsenal, Fresh Arsenal understands. There was significant interest in the young striker from around Europe, as his current contract was due to expire at the end of the season.
19-year-old Akpom has featured more regularly in the Arsenal first team recently, as Arsene Wenger has been trying to keep hold of the teenager amid interest from several other club.
It is thought that Akpom will sign the new deal which will expire in 2019 in the next week. The Mirror suggest that Akpom’s deal will be the most lucrative Wenger has ever handed to a teenager, thought to be worth £20,000 per-week.
The likes of Manchester City, Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund have registered interest in Akpom, as with his contract expiring it appeared that Arsenal were not too fussed about keeping him. But having shown his quality in the reserves, Wenger is ready to keep Akpom at the club for the long term.
He was starting to get frustrated at the lack of first team chances but after Wenger let Lukas Podolski, Joel Campbell and Yaya Sanogo leave on loan in January, Akpom has managed to feature regularly from the bench. Wenger did not choose to sign a striker to replace any of the trio, showing his faith in Akpom’s abilities.
The young English striker has huge potential. He has got pace, power and strength and showed that excellently on Sunday when he helped Arsenal win a penalty.
Hopefully we will see Akpom progress into a very talented striker over the next decade. He’s been at the club since he was nine, so he can become a club legend if he fulfils his potential.