This article is part of Football League World's 'The Verdict' series, which provides personal opinions from the FLW writers regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...
Nottingham Forest have emerged as potential contenders to sign Chuba Akpom, according to the Northern Echo.
The Middlesbrough striker faces an uncertain future at the club after being told that he would be allowed to leave the Riverside Stadium ahead of the new campaign.
Akpom only arrived at the club last summer but has struggled to break into Neil Warnock's first team plans after scoring just five goals in all competitions this season.
Forest will be looking for attacking additions of their own, but would Chuba Akpom be the man to fit into Chris Hughton's side?
The team at FLW have their say...
Ben Wignall
I think that Forest definitely need a smaller, quicker striker to compliment the likes of Lewis Grabban but I'm not entirely sure that Akpom would work.
He's definitely in the mould of what Chris Hughton should be looking for but I am not convinced that Akpom would fire in the goals to get Forest to the play-offs - he scored just five times in the Championship this past season for Middlesbrough and there's a reason why Neil Warnock seemingly doesn't want him anymore.
Akpom retained a lot of potential a few years ago when he was still at Arsenal but he's not proven himself to be prolific in the English leagues, and if they have the money Nottingham Forest could do with seeking someone who has proven that they know where the back of the net is.
I could see Akpom perhaps revitalising himself at a club that doesn't have expectations as high as Forest do, but I don't see them making a move for him.
Chris Thorpe