Middlesbrough striker Chuba Akpom is edging closer to a return to former club PAOK Salonika, with the two teams in 'advanced talks' in regards to a loan deal, per Gazzetta.

The 25-year-old ex-Arsenal striker played for the Greek side for two seasons, making 54 appearances in the Super League and scoring 14 times before returning to England last summer, with Neil Warnock bringing him in for £2.75 million.

Akpom failed to fire for Boro though last season, scoring just five times in 38 Championship outings and Warnock has been honest in where he sees the forward fitting in at the Riverside this season, stating that he is not in his plans going forward.

Despite apparent interest from Turkish giants Galatasaray, per Fotomac, it looks as though a return to Greece is on the horizon for Akpom.

Talks are progressing over a loan deal which will see the players wages split between the two clubs and will see PAOK have an option to turn the move into a permanent one at the end of the season.

The Verdict

None of Middlesbrough's forward line really fired last season and it speaks volumes that Warnock is prepared to get rid of Akpom when he really only has Uche Ikpeazu right now as another senior option.

The 25-year-old was given a chance off the bench against Queens Park Rangers in midweek but after failing to impress Warnock, it was seemingly the final straw for his time on Teesside.

Akpom seems well thought of in Greece though and in his debut year at PAOK in 2018-19 he helped the club to the Super League title, so maybe he will fit in a lot better back on the continent than at the Riverside.

Let's not forget that Akpom is still a talent - at five different youth levels for England he scored goals and given the right service and attention he can be a goalscorer however he just didn't fit in at Boro and he may have played his final game for the club.