QPR must try audacious Birmingham City transfer hijack for ex Arsenal basman today - opinion

QPR are in need of striking reinforcements ahead of the Championship season and have nothing to lose in launching an attempted transfer hijack for Birmingham City target Chuba Akpom. To do that, the London outfit must act today.

It’s the latest transfer saga to grip the attention of the second tier with the Blues working hard on a deal to sign the former Arsenal man from Ajax. Akpom spent last season on loan at Lille in Ligue 1 and is expected to leave his Dutch parent club this summer.

talkSPORT report that Akpom had already agreed a season-long loan deal with Birmingham City as Chris Davies prepares for a return to the Championship with the club after an impressive season in League One. However, the Midlands side risk seeing the striker taken away from their grasp at the last minute.

Birmingham City pushing to sign Chuba Akpom

It’s reported that Birmingham City had agreed a loan for the player with an obligation to buy should their achieve promotion to the Premier League. Championship rivals Middlesbrough had tried and failed to hijack the move and now Ipswich Town are launching a late attempt to sign Akpom.

It’s an intriguing saga and one that QPR should throw their hat into the ring for as they have nothing to lose. Michael Frey and Zen Celar have proven to be injury prone and Julien Stephan cannot go his first Championship campaign constantly without fit goalscorers.

Alfie Lloyd and Rayan Kolli are promising options but still wet behind the ears, with the former linked with a loan move to Bolton Wanderers. Pape Meissa Ba is supposedly incoming from 2. Bundesliga side FC Schalke but that move keeps appearing to stall.

QPR should launch transfer hijack

Akpom is a proven EFL bagsman. He scored 28 Championship goals over the 2022/23 season for Boro, winning the Golden Boot, and has the pedigree of the Arsenal academy. He moved to the Netherlands in 2023 and has netted 34 goals in 82 appearances in all competitions since then.

Realistically, it’s unlikely that QPR would be able to beat competition from Ipswich Town and Birmingham City but, given the club’s lack of goal power right now, adding their name to the transfer melee seems a no-brainer. With Akpom available on loan, there would be no transfer fee to be paid.

The player’s wages may take some covering but Zan Celar has been linked with a move away, which could generate transfer funds and space on the wage bill. Meanwhile, a move for Akpom, could allow the club to pull the plug on the €500,000 outlay on Ba.

In other news, QPR 'exemplary' star quits club for Wigan as R's 'close' to marquee signing.