'They also said that Luis Suarez was not an Ajax striker' - Dutch CB defends Chuba Akpom 

Panathinaikos' Dutch central defender Bart Schenkeveld cited Luis Suarez as he defended Chuba Akpom, saying that the summer signing from Middlesbrough will make the grade at Ajax Amsterdam. 

The Uruguayan faced criticism following his move to Ajax from FC Groningen, but silenced his doubters after notching 179 goal contributions (111 goals, 68 assists) in 159 games for the Amsterdam club, before going on to play for European giants Liverpool and Barcelona. 

The Eredivisie giants had been in the market for a striker this summer to provide competition for Brian Brobbey.

Ajax's Director of Football, Sven Mislintat selected Akpom, whom he knows from his time at Premier League club Arsenal. 

There are suggestions in some quarters that Akpom is not tailor-made for Ajax Amsterdam, but this has been dismissed by  Schenkeveld. 

Schenkeveld knows all about the qualities of Akpom as he came up against the Hale End Academty product several times in the Greek Super League. 

"He only played as a striker at PAOK. A typical Ajax striker? It's hard to say," Schenkeveld said in #DoneDeal, the transfer podcast of VoetbalPrimeur.

"They also said that Luis Suarez was not an Ajax striker at first, but in the end he did very well."

Akpom, who can also play as a support striker, attacking midfielder and winger, scored 28 times in the Championship last season to win the division's Golden Boot award. 

Igho Kingsley 

Copyright ANS

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from allnigeriasoccer.com