Arsenal make transfer decision on Nigerian-born player amid interest from three EFL clubs 

Allnigeriasoccer.com can exclusively report that Premier League side Arsenal have made a transfer decision on Nigerian-born player Tim Akinola ahead of next season. 

After talks between Akinola and those upstairs at the Gunners, a decision was reached for the defensive midfielder to either embark on another loan move or depart the club on a permanent deal in the summer. 

Now 22 years of age, the 2022 Olympic Eagles invitee won't be age-eligible for Arsenal's development squad next term in theory, so it doesn't make sense for him to stick around playing games for the U21s and depriving younger professionals of game time. 

Akinola was loaned out to Scottish Premiership outfit Dundee United in January 2022 and in the summer transfer window last year, National League club Chesterfield pulled of a surprise loan move for the Nigerian. 

It is understood that Chesterfield will not be signing the Arsenal-owned player on a permanent basis, with the leadership of the Spireites citing their failure to be promoted to the Football League via the playoffs. 

Unarguably his best performance in a Chesterfield shirt was against West Brom in the third round of the Emirates FA Cup, starring in the heart of midfield as the Spireites forced the Championship side to a 3-3 draw. 

The Baggies reached out to Arsenal after his outstanding performance and promised to follow up regarding a possible move at the end of the season. 

League One club Oxford United sent one of their scouts to run the rule over Akinola in the playoff defeat to Notts County at Wembley, where he lasted around half an hour on the pitch after coming off the bench. 

Gillingham are also in the mix to sign Akinola but it remains to be seen whether they would be able to convince him to continue his career in the fourth tier of English football. 

Apart from the three EFL clubs West Brom, Oxford United and Gillingham, Akinola is also on the radar of teams in Austria and Israel..

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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