Boro boss admits he wants to keep Super Eagles hopeful after brace v Sheffield United

Middlesbrough manager Chris Wilder has admitted that he wants to keep Chuba Akpom at the club after his first goals of the season helped Boro pick up a point in a 2-2 draw against Sheffield United at the Riverside Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The Super Eagles hopeful scored in each half as Boro twice came from behind to earn a share of the spoils, with his goals canceling out Sander Berge's strike and Ryan Giles' own goal.

Akpom appeared to have a bleak future at Middlesbrough after he was left out of the squad that began preparations for the new season in late June, but he has won over the manager on the back of his recent imperious displays.

The Hale End Academy product spent last season on loan at Greek club PAOK, where he netted 11 goals in 51 all-competition appearances, including eleven games in the Europa Conference League.

With Akpom in the final year of his contract, Boro may have no choice but to sell the striker if a substantial bid is received before the transfer window closes for business.

In quotes relayed by Teesside Live, Wilder explained : "He’s just had 300 clubs, that’s the only problem! Let’s just make it that he stays here at this club a little bit longer than he’s stayed at other clubs.

"That’s down to him. He had to convince me. I didn’t have to convince him because this is a really good football club with good facilities.

"We were honest in terms of what we asked of him, that’s non-negotiable. We want him to run around, work hard and compete.

"But we want him to play as well, which he did. It was up to him, and it’s still up to him to keep that going. He’s part of the group, and he has to keep going."

Akpom enjoyed loan spells at Brentford, Coventry City, Nottingham Forest, Hull City, Brighton & Hove and Sint-Truiden during his time at Arsenal before joining PAOK on a permanent deal in 2018.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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